Pleco Chinese Dictionary

What this is

Pleco Chinese Dictionary is an all-in-one Chinese dictionary and language-learning app for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

The free version includes Pleco's dictionary search engine, multiple dictionaries, basic audio, and a lightweight document reader, with no advertising. Optional paid add-ons expand it with tools such as OCR, flashcards, stroke-order diagrams, document reading, additional dictionaries, and pronunciation features.

For an au pair living in China, its Chinese-specific features make it useful for deciphering unfamiliar words, checking pronunciation, reading Chinese text, and building vocabulary during everyday life.

Who it's for

• People learning Chinese
• Travelers spending time in China
• Students studying Chinese
• Anyone who needs a Chinese dictionary or language-learning reference on their phone

What you get

• Free Chinese dictionary: Access Pleco's core dictionary search engine and included dictionaries without paying for the basic app.
• Chinese character OCR: The optional OCR feature lets you point your phone's camera at Chinese text and look up unfamiliar words.
• Pronunciation: Hear native-speaker Mandarin recordings for more than 34,000 words
• Offline use: Downloaded dictionaries and features can be used without an internet connection, which is particularly useful when you're out and about in China.
• Document Reader: Look up unfamiliar words directly within supported Chinese-language documents.
• Stroke-order diagrams: Learn how to write Chinese characters with animated stroke-order guides covering approximately 20,000 characters.

Why this is useful

Pleco is built specifically around Chinese rather than being a general-purpose translation app. Its system combines dictionary search, character recognition, handwriting lookup, pronunciation, reading tools, and vocabulary study in one app.

The free version is also genuinely usable on its own: Pleco says it includes its full dictionary search engine, included dictionaries, basic audio, and a light document-reader function, with no advertising. Users can add paid features only when they need them.

For someone spending months in China, the ability to download features and continue using them offline gives Pleco a practical advantage when you're away from reliable internet access.