ModernChineseDictionary vs 单词镜
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ModernChineseDictionary
This official dictionary app provides comprehensive Mandarin Chinese vocabulary, pronunciation, and character standards. It features expert editorial content, authentic audio, animated stroke guides, and smart search tools for learners and enthusiasts.
- 70,000+ verified entries
- 8 specialized dictionaries
- Authentic pronunciation audio
- Animated stroke-order guides
- Voice, camera, radical, Pinyin search
- Daily vocabulary lessons
- Cloud sync for word lists
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The Official 《现代汉语词典》(Modern Chinese Dictionary) app • Published by The Commercial Press • Edited by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences The《现代汉语词典》(Modern Chinese Dictionary) is China's first state-authorized reference for Mandarin pronunciation, characters, and vocabulary standards since 1949, and is recognized as a milestone in Chinese lexicography. ◆ Expert Editorial Team ◆ • Commissioned by the Chinese State Council, developed by top linguists • Founded by distinguished linguists, including renowned scholars 吕叔湘 (Lü Shuxiang) and 丁声树 (Ding Shengshu) • Backed by over 100 years of publishing expertise from The Commercial Press • Winner of the National Book Award, the China Outstanding Publications Award ◆ Comprehensive Learning Resources ◆ 【Core Content】Over 70,000 verified entries from the print edition 【Extended Tools】8 specialized dictionaries for writing, grammar, and usage 【Authentic Pronunciation】Audio guides by CCTV veteran anchor 李瑞英 (Li Ruiying) 【Character Mastery】Animated stroke-order guides combined with common error databases 【Cultural Insights】Historical calligraphy styles and character evolution ◆ Smart Search Features ◆ 【Dual Modes】Page-flipping simulation and instant keyword search 【Multi-Channel Lookup】Voice, camera, radicals, or Pinyin input 【Word Connections】Auto-generated synonyms, antonyms, and homophones ◆ Personalized Learning ◆ 【Cloud Sync】Custom word lists synced across devices 【Daily Lessons】"Word of the Day" with vocabulary-building games 【Instant Help】Grammar tips, stroke guidance, and usage comparisons Trusted by millions worldwide, this app delivers: • Accurate language standards for learners • Practical tools for daily study • Cultural context for deeper understanding Modern Chinese Dictionary App – Your smart companion for mastering Mandarin. [Modern Chinese Dictionary - Hanfen VIP Auto-Renewal Subscription Details] 1. Subscription Plan: Hanfen VIP Monthly Auto-Renewal (1-month cycle) 2. Pricing: 12 CNY/month (automatically renews until canceled) 3. Payment: Charged to your iTunes account upon purchase confirmation. 4. Auto-Renewal: Your Apple iTunes account will be charged 24 hours before the current subscription period ends. Payment confirmation extends your subscription by one cycle. 5. Cancellation: *Open iPhone Settings → iTunes & App Store → Tap your Apple ID → Select View Apple ID → Go to Subscriptions → Choose Hanfen VIP Monthly → Turn off auto-renewal. *Note: You must cancel at least 24 hours before the subscription period ends to avoid automatic renewal. 6. Membership Terms: https://about.shangdii.cn/autopay_service_terms?f=21004 7. Auto-Renewal Terms: https://about.shangdii.cn/autopay_agreement?f=21004 8. Privacy Policy: https://about.shangdii.cn/privacy?f=21004
单词镜
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Build your English vocabulary as you read. Point your camera at a textbook or import an image, then tap an English word to see its phonetic transcription, part of speech and Chinese definition, and hear it pronounced. POINT, TAP, LEARN With Live Lookup, recognized words on the page are tappable right in the camera view, no photo needed. You can also capture a full page or import one from your photo library and look up words as often as you like. Show definitions beside the word or in a bottom card, or type a word to look it up manually. HEAR AND TRANSLATE SENTENCES Switch to Sentences mode and tap a whole sentence to hear it read aloud and see a Chinese translation from Apple Translate. READ AND LEARN OFFLINE Text recognition and dictionary lookup run on your device. Core lookup works without an internet connection. Choose British or American pronunciation and speech rate using system voices. KEEP THE WORDS YOU DISCOVER Save words, add your own definitions, and revisit recent scans to continue learning where you left off. On iPad, a split-view layout keeps your words and their meanings side by side. GO FURTHER WITH PRO An optional one-time Pro purchase unlocks batch word extraction, custom vocabulary books, spaced review, dictation (with voice answers), spelling practice, learning statistics, a daily review reminder, and data export and backup. Pro is not an auto-renewing subscription. Purchasing and restoring purchases require an App Store connection. YOUR LEARNING MATERIALS STAY WITH YOU No account required. No ads. WordLens does not upload your scan images, vocabulary books or learning records to a developer-hosted service. You can delete scans, clean up images or erase all user data. If system backup is enabled, your operating system may include app data in its backups. The interface supports English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Dictionary definitions are in Chinese.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: 单词镜 at fortnightly against ModernChineseDictionary's every 6 weeks. ModernChineseDictionary's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ModernChineseDictionary sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and 单词镜 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ModernChineseDictionary ships an update every 6 weeks, 单词镜 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ModernChineseDictionary | 单词镜 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (64 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 61.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 64 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 180 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wanyouzhidian Digital Media Technology(Beijing) Co., Ltd. | 传明 储 |
In-app purchases
ModernChineseDictionary
- 涵芬VIP会员连续包月1 Month trial$2.991 Month
- 18币$2.99
- 涵芬 (1个月VIP)$2.99
- 40币$5.99
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- 涵芬 (6个月VIP)$9.99
- 78币$9.99
- 优惠购_78$9.99
- 88币$12.99
- 优惠购_88$12.99
- 现代汉语词典+涵芬联合会员优惠购_96$12.99
- 98币$14.99
- 涵芬 (1年VIP)$14.99
- 现代汉语涵芬联合会员$17.99
- 涵芬(3年)$29.99
单词镜
- WordLens Pro$9.99







