# Mandarin Language Guide & Audio - World Nomads — user reviews > 27 indexed App Store user reviews of Mandarin Language Guide & Audio by WorldNomads.com, rated 2.00/5 from 1 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin-language-guide-and-audio-world-nomads/id297252887/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandarin-language-guide-and-audio-world-nomads/id297252887.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 0 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 0 ## Newest reviews (8 of 27) ### 2/5 — Review *2014-06-17, version 2.5* Very shallow functionality and minimal vocabulary. ### 2/5 — Meh *2012-01-30, version 2.0* As everyone has complained, the lack of pinyin is annoying. They give you a sort of phonetic spelling of phrases, but is inconsistent. Some phrases ("The drugs aren't mine!") are a bit silly, as well. Not for learning the language, but not terrible in a pinch. Needs a lot more content. ### 2/5 — 2 stars *2010-11-07, version 0* Ok considering it's free. Half the vocabs have non-standard pinyin. Also the speaker has slight accent from standard mandarin - pronunciation of #2 is tell-tale sign. There are probably better apps out there. ### 2/5 — Not worth your time *2010-10-11, version 0* I downloaded this app to check it out, but deleted it almost suddenly. This app does not spell Mandarin Chinese properly. In other words the pinyin spellings are wrong, I would suggest an app that uses proper pinyin which will help you out a lot more. ### 2/5 — good but needs work *2010-02-22, version 0* This is an ok app, in my books it would rank a 5 if it used standard pinyin-the pinyin taught in schools, taught to chinese people, and recognised by computer typing. I also find the standard pinyin very important not only because that is the language that is taught, but also it would help you understand the right way of saying it, which means you will look less like an idiot. USE STANDARD PINYIN AND THEN I WILL GIVE IT A 5!!! ### 2/5 — Decent features marred by use of different pinyin *2010-01-08, version 0* Non standard pinyin (phonetic system for sounding out Mandarin) mixed with standard pinyin - confusing for the beginner ### 2/5 — Ne Hau! *2009-02-05, version 0* Good starting point for basic phrases. ### 2/5 — Only for complete novice *2008-11-29* 5 categories (Numbers, Introductions, Directions, Places to Stay, Travel Safety, Dates) each has about 5 to 10 entries with slow, clear mp3 audio. Proprietary phonetic chinese accompanies english phrase - that helps for complete novices but means anyone who knows pinyin can't follow it. Pinyin isn't really that hard to read...is it? I hesitate even to recommend this for someone going to China for a first time short trip. It won't get you far; it will break the ice, but the scope is so limited there's a danger you will start a conversation and not have the tools to complete it. There is a nice audio lesson built in, an acted scenario to help introduce the language. Limited, but free, so good for a taste. 1 star for folk in china, 3 stars for newbie visitors. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Useless *2012-07-29, version 2.3* Couldn't find a way to use this once. No audio on most words you need. If your hoping to use it for travel forget it. Even lingopal was more help. I'm hardly going to buy the full version when the free one was less than helpful. ### 1/5 — Novelty only - download then delete it *2012-01-15, version 2.0* Too basic, not enough phrases . And as others have said, the fake phonetic pinyin is annoying esp. for those that want to learn. Better to give pinyin overview else include both options infer Settings ### 1/5 — Mandarin language guide *2011-02-12, version 1.1* Not impressed. Too many inconsistencies. ### 1/5 — Gawd Afull *2009-02-13, version 0* Not only is the pinyin inaccurate, as others reviewers noted, but it is also inconsistent. For example, today 'jin tian' tomorrow 'min tien' to romanizations of the same character 天。 ### 1/5 — Not correct Pinyin *2009-02-09, version 0* This App has lots of useful phrases. And it's free which is very generous of the creators. But I have to give it 1-star because it does NOT use the correct, standard and official Chinese romanization of Mandarin - Pinyin. I am an English speaker trying to learn Mandarin and part of that is learning Pinyin (which all other language tools use) - and which this app doesn't help with. Even if the creators do not like Pinyin - they could still have it as an option. So I'm really sorry to give this 1-star, but with this issue the app is worthless to me. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2009-01-13, version 0* This is god awful... "zai jane?" Learn Pinyin... It's "zai jian." That was just one example of how wrong this app is. It's good for sounding like a loser foreigner though. ### 1/5 — Great idea - and Free, but *2009-01-04, version 0* It's a shame the writers did not add Chinese script - or at the very least, CORRECT Pin Yin - what they have used appears to be their own system of Romanisation. All mainland Chinese can read correct Pin Yin - if you are in a bind. ### 1/5 — Unnatural speech patterns *2008-11-25, version 0* I would be the laughing stock of tourists and locals alike if I spoke Chinese as haltingly as the audio samples included here. It's unnatural - like a robot talking or William Shatner speaking Mandarin! The audio clips do not have to be lightning fast but, at least, approximate the REAL speech patterns! ### 2/5 — Serious flaw *2019-09-08, version 3.0* It’s nice that the phrases are categorized by social situations i.e. introductions, restaurant, etc but with no audio right beside it, it’s practically useless. As the Chinese guy said in the audio clip, intonation is everything because it determines the meaning of the phrase. ### 2/5 — Missing Pinyin!! *2016-09-17, version 2.5* They went out of their way to insult our intelligence by inventing a new phonetic romanization just for this app, and left out the tones! I don't mind the slow but accurate pronunciation -- that can be useful, but anyone even half serious about learning to speak uses pinyin. And omitting tones is outrageous -- you will either not be understood, or be misunderstood, without them, and they cannot be learned just by listening. ## Most praised reviews (9 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Very Good product..! *2009-10-04, version 0* ..when they update this products in the future will be good to add next to each phrase line -> a picture of Speaker <- to be visible that you can also hear the pronunciation in Chinese on all words and phases ..voice quality is not bad! ### 5/5 — Great *2008-12-31, version 0* Great most words are what I needed ### 5/5 — Onechinajiayou *2008-12-17, version 0* Spoken way too slow. pronouciation is great, better than the other free Chinese app. ### 4/5 — Decent app *2009-10-11, version 0* Pretty good considering it is free, I suppose the incorrect pinyin does make it slightly easier to learn. ### 4/5 — Love the language lesson! *2009-10-06, version 0* I found the language lesson dialogue to be a pleasure to listen to and I am so glad they implemented the playback controls there so one can rewind, etc to a specific point in the dialogue. I have not tried it yet, but I assume that the app will now remember where one left off in the dialogue if tha app is closed and relaunched. App could use some more content. ### 4/5 — Only the basics but does them well. *2009-02-18, version 0* This only has the basics of mandarin but seems to have many of those essential phrases. It also doesn't use "official" pinyn ording but instead uses a more European Spanish-like spelling (I.e I is pronounced like the I in ski.) of te words so you can jump right in with the pronounciation making it easier for beginners. ### 4/5 — S *2008-12-24, version 0* Very good app, considering it's FREE! Has all the basics you need, it's not a whole dictionary but will diff help you in sticky situations. It does however need a button that says do you speak English as I find this is the most common thing I ask :( ### 3/5 — Pinyin!!! *2011-06-29, version 1.1* Now won likes peepol hoo yooz fak pinyin. :( But the rest of the app is amazing!!!!  ### 3/5 — Add more phrases *2009-10-22, version 0* I have observed moderate terms in topics so you need to update lot of phrases to make it perfectly useful. --- *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 2026-06-01.*