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Pleco Chinese Dictionary

Pleco Chinese Dictionary

Handwriting, OCR, flashcards

1.9K ratings
1187 reviews
#152 in free Reference
📚 Education
🔍 Reference
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • December 17, 2009
  • May 11, 2026

Developer

Pleco Inc.
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iphone
ipad
🧾Free - $59.99
In-App Purchase↘︎
📉no. 152
Charts↘︎
📌Ready
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⭐1.2K
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📝40+ tags
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🔄6+ apps
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❓5 answered
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📦~ in 2 months
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About

This app is a comprehensive tool for learning Chinese, offering integrated dictionaries, document reading, and flashcard features. It supports various input methods including handwriting and OCR, with extensive dictionary options and pronunciation guides.

✓Integrated dictionaries with over 110,000 entries
✓Full-screen handwriting input
✓Live OCR for word lookup
✓Document reader for various file types
✓Flashcard system with SRS
✓Stroke order diagrams
✓Mandarin and Cantonese audio
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What users say

Summarized from real user reviews of Pleco Chinese Dictionary. Based on 1.9K reviews and a 4.7/5 average, it highlights the 6 positives and 4 negatives reviewers mention most about this Reference app.

Positive things

  • 🚀Extremely helpful and useful
  • 👍Comprehensive and detailed dictionary
  • 🔍Excellent search and lookup features
  • 💡Customizable and personalized experience
  • 🎓Essential tool for learning Chinese
  • 🔊Clear audio pronunciations

Negative things

  • 💰Expensive add-ons and bundles
  • 🐛Occasional bugs and freezing issues
  • 🔍Cluttered interface and navigation
  • 🌐Lack of cloud sync and backup
See all reviews

What's New in Pleco Chinese Dictionary

3.2.82

May 11, 2026

• Added vocabulary for the refreshed 2026 HSK 3.0 test to Import/Export / Install Premade Cards. Along with updating the vocabulary, we've also added shorter custom definitions for about 100 words where the default dictionary import might give you a card with the primary HSK meaning misleading or buried. • Various bug fixes.

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10

In-App Purchases

$4.99

Mandarin Audio (male)

Recordings of single Mandarin syllables from a male speaker. After purchasing this item, you'll be able to download the (very large) extended version, with individual recordings for about 34,000 words, as a free add-on.

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Charts

Top Free

📉 152-1

Reference

This app dropped -1 position in Reference chart.

Last updated on July 18, 2026.

Top Grossing

📉 198-15

Reference

This app dropped -15 positions in Reference chart.

Last updated on July 18, 2026.

User reviews

Most RecentHighest RatedLowest Rated

Peak

I use this in school. Very 67. No ads. Wayyy awesomer than google translate. More accurate too. 很好很好👌
CychcwlCychcwl

Clunky

I don't understand why this dictionary has such a high rating. The search functionality is total junk. E.g., try searching for "Monday" with Outlier dictionary. You won't get anything despite that word being present in the dictionary.
tehrhdbtehrhdb

Best Dictionary App!!

This app has been amazingly helpful! As a native English speaker trying to learn Mandarin this is so good and powerful. It gives so many more details and information compared to translate apps. I use it as my primary form of review for flashcards, and the other tools like the built in pronunciation and stroke order are so helpful. For sure best purchase I’ve made. Amazing app.
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Apostate_MageApostate_Mage

The best Mandarin dictionary app!

It is the best Mandarin app out there. The best!
Lord TichondriusLord Tichondrius

Amazing for learning

Im learning Chinese and this app has been such a help!
Red panda joyRed panda joy
See 1182 more reviews

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Handwriting recognition not always accurate

Bug

Inconsistent performance on older devices

Bug

Occasional issues with iCloud sync and backup

Bug
✨

Requested Features

4 requests

Improved flashcard management and organization

Feature

More language options beyond Mandarin and Cantonese

Feature

Better integration with other learning apps and platforms

Feature

Ability to filter and prioritize common/essential vocabulary

Feature

FAQ

What does Pleco Chinese Dictionary do?

Pleco is an all-in-one Chinese learning application that combines a powerful dictionary, a document reader, and a flashcard system. It allows users to look up words, read Chinese texts, and create study cards for memorization, supporting both simplified and traditional characters.

What are the key features of Pleco?

Key features include extensive dictionaries with over 110,000 entries, full-screen handwriting input, live Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for instant word lookup, a document reader that supports various file formats, and a flashcard system with Spaced Repetition System (SRS) for effective memorization. It also offers stroke order diagrams and audio pronunciations.

Is Pleco Chinese Dictionary free?

The core functionality of Pleco, including two built-in dictionaries and basic features, is free. However, many advanced features, such as additional dictionaries, enhanced document reader capabilities, native-speaker audio recordings, and advanced flashcard options, are available as paid add-ons.

What devices is Pleco compatible with?

Pleco is designed for mobile devices. The description mentions features like using the device's camera for OCR and the device's screen for handwriting, indicating compatibility with smartphones and tablets that support these functions, likely iOS and Android.

How can Pleco help me learn Chinese?

Pleco aids Chinese learning by providing instant access to definitions, pronunciations, and example sentences for a vast number of words. Its handwriting and OCR features help with character recognition, while the flashcard system and document reader support vocabulary acquisition and reading practice.