Pleco Chinese Dictionary

Pleco Chinese Dictionary

Handwriting, OCR, flashcards

1.9K ratings
1195 reviews
#148 in free Reference
📚 Education
🔍 Reference
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • December 17, 2009
  • August 12, 2026
Pleco Chinese Dictionary screenshot #1 for iPhone
Pleco Chinese Dictionary screenshot #2 for iPhone
Pleco Chinese Dictionary screenshot #3 for iPhone
Pleco Chinese Dictionary screenshot #4 for iPhone
Pleco Chinese Dictionary screenshot #5 for iPhone
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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

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What's New in Pleco Chinese Dictionary

3.2.83

August 12, 2026

Fix for a crashing bug in forthcoming version of iPadOS.

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

📉 148-17

Reference

This app dropped -17 positions in Reference chart.

Last updated on September 17, 2026.

Top Grossing

📉 179-1

Reference

This app dropped -1 position in Reference chart.

Last updated on September 17, 2026.

User reviews

Used to be better

Dear Pleco, want to keep on making your app better? Instead of adding more new features, why not add more vocabulary, including example sentences and current slang? When writing a character on the screen, that swipe-down feature to get the writing screen to go away is really annoying and often results in a messed up character. Also, it was helpful when, in the past, there was a lot larger selection of character option results to choose from when writing. Also, what happened to the detailed character breakdown into radicals and components that used to be available, like six years ago? Anyway, keep up the good work, thanks for being better than the others, at least.
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Very good - but needs better example sentences

Great app with a lot of use. Flashcards are great, the additional dictionaries are great. Very helpful.

But I wish the definitions didn’t provide such complicated definitions all the time! Not that everything needs to be HK1, but sometimes you look up a word and the sentence examples are far from something useful. Otherwise, great app.
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Very good

Very good app but for me the voice thing where you speak doesn’t work :(

PLEASE GET IT!! ❤️

This app is the single best dictionary you will ever find for free online. It has every function you could want, it’s perfectly designed, and there is nothing wrong yet that I’ve noticed. I’ve never had a single glitch on this app, not a single ad either. It’s a DREAM for Chinese ❤️❤️ 谢谢,程序员!我在爱这个APP!
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The best!

Pleco is solidly reliable and I’ve been using it for years.

Developer apps

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.