# Flashonary - Chinese-English, Chinese-German Flashcard Dictionary — user reviews > 142 indexed App Store user reviews of Flashonary by Total Universal, rated 3.40/5 from 7 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashonary-chinese-english-chinese-german-flashcard-dictionary/id320888944/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashonary-chinese-english-chinese-german-flashcard-dictionary/id320888944.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 2 ## What do users think of Flashonary? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 📚 Comprehensive Chinese-English dictionary - 🎯 Easy custom flashcard creation from dictionary - 🎨 Tone color coding system for visual learning - 🔊 Audio pronunciation feature (paid add-on) - 📊 HSK level indicators for vocabulary - 🎓 Effective learning tool for Mandarin students - ⚡ Fast pinyin search functionality - 🎯 Customizable study folders and organization - 💾 Export and backup flashcard capabilities - 🆓 Powerful free version with core features **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues - 💰 Expensive add-ons ($9.99-$10 for audio/colors) - 📱 iPad compatibility problems - 🔊 Audio pronunciation sometimes incorrect (5th tone) - 🎯 Limited flashcard study customization options - 🔄 Repetitive flashcard sequencing - 📝 Difficulty restricting to simplified characters only - 🖼️ Text size issues with traditional characters - ⚠️ App crashes after purchasing add-ons - 🔍 Dictionary search could be more intuitive **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes frequently on iPad - Crashes when opening flashcard decks after add-on purchase - Audio add-on disappeared after update - Traditional character display issues in flashcards - Settings not accessible in app or system settings - Text too small for traditional characters - Crashes with iOS 7 compatibility - Pinyin input lookup causes crashes - Flashcard folders don't properly separate - Missing text in landscape mode - Occasional glitches when adding dictionary entries **Most requested features** - Stroke order display for characters - Example sentences for all vocabulary entries - Sync between iPhone and iPad devices - Sequential flashcard review option - Customizable flashcard display formats - Progress tracking and mastery indicators - Ability to add phrases, not just words - Weighting system for mastered words - Japanese language version - Desktop/PC companion app with sync - Ability to copy words from dictionary - Better flashcard folder separation - Customizable tone color schemes - Batch on/off toggle for large decks - Pinyin-only flashcard option - Sample sentences in example fields - Character radical and component information ## Newest reviews (12 of 142) ### 4/5 — Fantastic App *2020-08-12, version 2.8.4* This is an amazing app. It contains a lot of the stuff that makes learning mandarin fun and you do actually learn fast. It constrains all the techniques that will speed up your learning. I absolutely love it. This app is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. 😊😊😊👍👍👍 ### 3/5 — Lots to love but... *2018-02-20, version 2.8.4* Update: it works well on my iPad Mini so I will upgrade from one star to three. I love the searchable dictionary, tone color characters (add on), print/PDF option (add on), and audio (add on). I even bought the HSK1 add on Flashcards pack. All together I spent 28 dollars to get the tools I needed to study. It was well worth it for an interactive study tool that I could customize for my needs. The only problem is that after I bought the HSK pack, the app crashed. It would not work at all and crashed each time I tried to open the flash decks (they were working prior to that add on). I have emailed the company and would love to update this review with a positive outcome. Here’s to being hopeful... ### 3/5 — Great app. *2016-12-08, version 2.8.4* This is a brilliant way for me to study words. Being able to add the words to a flashcard for future practice is amazing. But... after entering some words into a folder the app crashes every time I try and review. ### 3/5 — Ok... *2015-01-23, version 2.8.3* Easy to create a new folder with words you want to learn. I dont like the fact that the app doesnt have the sound effect for free so I cannot listen to how the words are pronounced. Also the flashcard folders dont actually seperate from one another which is quite annoying since sometimes I want to learn just a certain folder but it seems like the app doesnt allow it ### 2/5 — Crashes *2014-10-29, version 2.8.2* Loved the concept but almost always crashes on my mini ipad. Had to uninstall it ### 3/5 — Good but Buggy *2014-10-28, version 2.8.2* Pros * Great way to save and manage words * Developer responsive to emails Cons * You can not review your flashcards sequentially * $10 audio is worth it... except the 5th tone is often times wrong because it doesn't change pitch with the preceding tone * I've encountered several bugs after new releases ### 4/5 — Good, but the last update screwed me over *2014-06-23, version 2.7* I've used this app for a year or so now, and it's great. Only problem is, the last update (The one from today, which is June 23rd 2014) screwed me over. I use the Traditional Characters, but certain characters aren't showing up on the flashcard in that setting (i.e. 分，哦, et cetera). I also can't change the settings (It's not on my settings app or on Flashonary's app itself) and the text is now too small for traditional characters, but if I put it back to simplified everything's normal again. Please fix it? ### 3/5 — Helpful, but crashes *2013-10-13, version 2.2.1* This flashcard app helps me make flashcards for my Chinese class quickly and is useful, but has continuously crashed with iOs 7. ### 3/5 — Could be great *2013-10-05, version 2.2.1* Love this app but it keeps crashing. I use it a lot to study so it gets quite frustrating. Please fix. ### 2/5 — It needs fixing *2013-09-29, version 2.2.1* The app is really useful but it needs fixing now. It crashes all the time while working with it, especially after updating to ios 7 so it is nearly impossible to use it. There are also great problems when you choose a directory for the new-created flashcards. It often doesn't save them to the folder chosen. Fix the app, pleace. ### 5/5 — 很好啊！ *2013-09-14, version 2.2* Best Chinese-English dictionary/flash card app. Preferred over pleco. Great improvements recently. Helpful way to study. ### 5/5 — Hello *2013-07-27, version 2.1* Very good upgrade! Very good app please continue making this app better ! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Audio???? *2017-12-26, version 2.8.4* UPDATE: WHERE IS THE AUDIO. It’s gone. Try to restore, and it’s not there. Spent $10 for nothing!!!!! Felt cheated. Old review: I'd downloaded this app for a long time and haven't been using it till recently when I'm willing to part $10 for in-app-purchase pronunciation feature. Now, this is my favorite app for learning Chinese (even though I still miss my $10). One star off for... A) Some words do not have the most common definitions. (Easy work around by adding ur own definition.) B) No upgrade since Dec 2011. I haven't found any bugs yet... But since iOS 6 is out I... I just want an upgrade to know that this app is still supported by an existing company/individual. E) Wish it comes with flashcard sets of most common 5000 words or sets of hsk words level 1-5. But I do find that the process of creating ur own flashcard sets (looking up the words and double check the definitions) is part of learning Chinese. D) I'm still unclear as to how and in what order the flashcards are shown in. Wish there is more than just two methods and that there is explanation / description for individual method.... So exactly what does the color on the left side of the word in the flashcard list means??? ### 1/5 — Was excellent but doesn't work now *2016-10-22, version 2.8.4* I can't get the program to stay open.i haven't used it in a while. So when it didn't stay open, I updated it. But it still won't stay open. ### 1/5 — Serious glitch! *2014-10-20, version 2.8.1* Hey, what's up with this app? I can't even open it, it's totally not working. Please work on it. I don't mind paying for it, but I need it, it's the only dictionary that indicates HSK level of each word. ### 1/5 — Crashing *2014-10-17, version 2.8.1* Since last update! Please help - been key in my learning ### 1/5 — Massive update size?! *2014-06-23, version 2.7* Another 163 MB update for this app... What's the point of having anything else? Nothing else will fit on your device! ### 1/5 — Terrible *2014-02-11, version 2.5* Everyday brings a new bug and frustrating crashes. Awful. ### 1/5 — Schade *2013-12-29, version 2.3.4* Anwendung ist nicht mehr wirklich nutzbar. War früher mal ganz ok. Mit jedem Update kommen mehr neue Fehler hinzu. Da hat ein Programmierer sich wohl ganz schön verzettelt. ### 1/5 — :-( *2013-12-24, version 2.3.4* Deutsch funktioniert nicht ### 1/5 — Terrible *2012-09-07, version 1.7.4* The app is terrible because there only 1 lesson. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2012-08-06, version 1.7.4* Absolutely terrible. I tried to find just basic simple word and comes up with all these different answers, when I just want the one. NOT GOOD if you know more than the basic, I, you, he, she. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Fantastic for Mandarin/Chinese word lookup *2020-06-07, version 2.8.4* I’ve used it for many years. I especially like that it tells you if a word is in the HSK exams and, if so, what level. That means that if you look up a translation you get an idea of how common a word is in Mandarin. The flash card features are also great. Thank you to the developers for years of help learning/maintaining my Mandarin. ### 5/5 — Please fix it! *2018-07-29, version 2.8.4* I’m giving this app five stars because it is really an excellent app, and I use it every day in China. It has seriously saved my life for learning chinese and I recommend it to all my friends learning chinese there. But it crashes constantly on my iPad! Please fix the bugs, it’s such a good app otherwise 😣 ### 5/5 — A Must Have *2015-03-22, version 2.8.3* An indispensable tool in my language learning. I recommend the audio addon. ### 5/5 — Very effective *2014-11-26, version 2.8.3* An effective app for learning chinese vocabulary. ### 5/5 — Very useful *2014-11-26, version 2.8.3* My most used app. Very effective. ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2014-04-27, version 2.6* Great update ### 5/5 — great flash card chinese app *2014-04-23, version 2.6* love this app. i looked around and its the best. just the right amount of features while still keeping it simple and focused. like the ability to create custom cards. ### 5/5 — Exquisite *2014-03-02, version 2.5.1* This is a gorgeous app. Some features I like: (1) comprehensive dictionary; (2) customized flash card sets; (3) customizable flash card format; (4) easy backup and export of flash cards and flash card sets for use on multiple devices; (5) tone colors; (6) audio; (7) a beautiful clean user interface. The best Mandarin flash card app I have found by far. ### 5/5 — Its really helpfull!))) *2014-01-06, version 2.4* Thank you for this really awesome app! It helps me in my Chinese studying!) I'll give you 5 stars!!!! ### 5/5 — Thank you!) *2013-12-10, version 2.3.3* This is the best Chinese app I've ever used! Love it and use it every day! --- *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 2026-06-11.*