# BaoBao: Learn Mandarin Chinese — Read Stories, Audiobooks & AI

> Learn Chinese reading and listening with authentic content and AI-powered tools. (iPhone/iPad app by Quan Pham.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baobao-learn-mandarin-chinese/id6745503233 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Quan Pham](https://appshunter.io/developer/1808376254)
- Category: Education, Books
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 207 App Store ratings · 23 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: +4
- Requires: iOS 16.1 · 70 MB
- Languages: European Portuguese, German (Germany), Khmer, Korean, European Spanish, Filipino, French (France), Indonesian, American English, Italian and 5 more
- Released: 2025-06-04
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baobao-learn-mandarin-chinese/id6745503233/reviews.md

## What is BaoBao?

BaoBao | Learn to Read & Listen to Chinese from Real-Life Content

Read Chinese in real contexts. BaoBao turns Mandarin audiobooks, bilingual news and short videos into an engaging study routine.

Why learners choose BaoBao:

Authentic books & audiobooks
- Side-by-side translation in your language
- Native narration with adjustable speed
- Inline pinyin and grammar notes

Bilingual news and videos
Stay current while you study; every headline comes with dual subtitles and cultural context.

Tap-to-translate dictionary
One tap shows definitions, HSK level, stroke-order animation and example sentences.

Personal word bank & smart flashcards
Save any term. BaoBao's spaced-repetition flashcard system brings vocabulary and Chinese characters back for review at the right time, with example sentences to help the meaning stick.

Gamified challenges
Timed quizzes, streaks and word puzzles that make learning feel like play.

In-app explanations
Ask about any phrase and get a clear explanation in seconds.

Vocab-growth tracker
Track your ""words-known"" counter as you progress through lessons.

Made for busy learners who want to
- Learn during commutes with hands-free audio content
- Combine entertainment with study
- Build real-world vocabulary from authentic sources
- Practice listening through native speech

Content for every level
Whether you're a beginner starting HSK 1 basics or an intermediate learner reading advanced prose, BaoBao offers content matched to your level; comprehensible without being watered down. (HSK is the official Chinese proficiency exam recognized by Chinese universities and employers.)

Download BaoBao today
A blend of Chinese dictionary, pinyin lookup, real-life reading, listening, and spaced-repetition review in one app. Study Mandarin at your own pace, with new content added regularly.

## Key features

- Authentic books and audiobooks
- Side-by-side translation
- Native narration with adjustable speed
- Tap-to-translate dictionary with pinyin and grammar
- AI-powered flashcards and word bank
- Gamified learning challenges
- AI tutor for instant explanations

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Plus+ 1 Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Plus+ 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Plus+ 3 Months | $24.99 | per 3 months |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 23)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/baobao-learn-mandarin-chinese/id6745503233/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Chi

*2026-08-22, version 1.4.5*

Me gusta la aplicación, pero lo que no entiendo, es que yo veo en una escuela mandarín y algunas palabras se miran diferente que ahí y quiero saber en cuánto Tiempo podría hablar chino

### 1/5 — Expensive greedy app

*2026-08-10*

Too expensive and greedy for what it is

### 1/5 — オーディオブックの単語のフォーカス

*2026-07-21*

アルケミストの2章以降が全て1行ズレています。また、有料で使用していますが、プレミアムにしたのに、利用料金に対してコンテンツが少ない様に思います。オーディオブックを増やして欲しいです。4-5冊とは、コンテンツの充実度がかなり少なすぎると思います。機能は良いと思いますが、クレヨンしんちゃんも見れない様です。オーディオブックの単語のフォーカスは、直ぐになおして欲しいです。

**Developer response:** Hi,

Thank you for your support and for using our app. Your feedback helps us continue improving and making the app better for everyone.

We're currently adding a lot more content to the "Podcast" section. If you're enjoying that feature and find the app helpful, would you mind leaving us a 5-star review? It would mean a lot to our team and help us reach more language learners.

Thanks,

### 5/5 — 유용하게 잘 쓰고 있어요!

*2026-07-11*

굿굿

### 4/5 — Only simplified chinese

*2026-07-02, version 1.2.8*

would love this app if it could change to simplified -> traditional!

### 1/5 — Videos are not playing

*2026-06-07, version 1.2.6*

I don’t know why but the videos are not playing on this app. I have paid for a subscription so I’m pretty annoyed. I have tried with and without vpn, tried deleting and re-downloading the app, tried clearing app cache etc… and nothing seems to work. Why would they make an app that can’t actually play the content? 😓

### 1/5 — Glitchy

*2026-05-08, version 1.2.4*

For some reason I am unable to watch any videos, the one thing that pulled me to this app in the first place

### 1/5 — Unusable

*2026-05-03, version 1.2.4*

Took ages to open up, made me think it was broken. App is hard to navigate. I got stuck in a video that would not load and I couldn’t return to the Home Screen. Poor UX.

### 3/5 — Good but not enough videos

*2026-04-28*

For HSK 1 only 40 videos and not enough variety. I was expecting like 200 videos at least and or just cartoons. I don’t like cartoons. To be improved… and some mistakes sometimes in Hanzi translations in the videos.

### 2/5 — AI bugs

*2026-03-15, version 1.2.2*

Too many bugs still, the quizzes don’t work, there’s only limited amounts of books to read and the videos are just others contents from YouTube. A lot of them already have subtitles and pinyin. You guys really need to figure out the quiz part of it all, make sure whatever AI generator is doing it to work correctly. Has potential, it’s still lacking a LOT.

## Frequently asked questions about BaoBao

### What does BaoBao do?

BaoBao helps you learn to read and listen to Chinese by using real-life content such as best-selling novels, graded audiobooks, bilingual news, and short videos. It provides tools like side-by-side translation, native narration, instant pinyin, and grammar notes to make learning engaging and effective.

### What are the key features of BaoBao?

Key features include access to authentic books and audiobooks with side-by-side translation and native narration, bilingual news with dual subtitles, a tap-to-translate dictionary with HSK levels and stroke-order animations, an AI-powered flashcard system for personalized review, gamified learning challenges, and an AI tutor for instant phrase explanations.

### How much does BaoBao cost?

The app is free to download and offers in-app purchases. While the core functionality is available for free, users can unlock additional content or features through these purchases.

### What devices is BaoBao compatible with?

The provided description does not specify exact device compatibility. However, as a mobile application, it is designed to run on smartphones and tablets that support its operating system, typically iOS and Android.

### Who is BaoBao best suited for?

BaoBao is perfect for busy learners who want to integrate Chinese study into their daily routines, such as during commutes. It's also ideal for those who enjoy learning through entertainment, want to build vocabulary from authentic sources, and wish to develop natural listening skills with native speech.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.5 — 2026-08-04

- Bug fixes and performance improvements
- Added support for adding YouTube videos with auto-generated subtitles
- Added the ability to edit passages for YouTube videos you add

### 1.4.4 — 2026-08-03

- Adicionada leitura de texto por OCR
- Correção de erros e melhorias de desempenho

### 1.4.3 — 2026-07-18

- Bug fixes and performance improvements

### 1.4.2 — 2026-07-12

- Correções de bugs e melhorias de desempenho.

### 1.4.1 — 2026-07-07

- Bug fixes and performance improvements

## Apps similar to BaoBao

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [HiHSK - Tiếng Trung](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hihsk-tieng-trung/id6741479141) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Education |
| [Chinese Reading & Audio Books](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-reading-and-audio-books/id1035979404) | 4.2 (21) | Free | Education |
| [Speak Chinese: Learn Mandarin](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speak-chinese-learn-mandarin/id6468914724) | 4.6 (254) | Free | Education |
| [Shadow Chinese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-chinese/id1576096161) | — | Free | Education |
| [Novli - Learn Chinese](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novli-learn-chinese/id6744056786) | 4.8 (58) | Free | Education |
| [Tenmin - Language Learning](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tenmin-language-learning/id6742799082) | 4.6 (619) | Free | Education |

## More apps by Quan Pham

- [Chinese Vocab: HSK Flashcard](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chinese-vocab-hsk-flashcard/id6744602011)
- [DeepL: Focus & App Blocker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deepl-focus-and-app-blocker/id6752376942)
- [Hola: Learn Spanish Easy Read](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hola-learn-spanish-easy-read/id6753857970)
- [Spanish Vocab by Images](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spanish-vocab-by-images/id6753890157)
- [Goi: Japanese Vocabulary Kanji](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goi-japanese-vocabulary-kanji/id6753915719)

All apps by Quan Pham: https://appshunter.io/developer/1808376254

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*