Comparison

DDB Access vs Standard Dictionary

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DDB Access

Access comprehensive Buddhist and Classical Chinese dictionaries with search, parsing, and pronunciation features. Ideal for scholars, it offers detailed character information and etymology.

Highlights
  • Search by Chinese, pinyin, or translation
  • Parse and lookup unknown words in text
  • View character etymology and series
  • Read texts and words aloud
  • Customizable user interface
  • Access to DDB and CJKV-E dictionaries
Features
Read full description

DDB (Digital Dictionary of Buddhism) and CJKV-E (Classical Chinese) are collaborative works edited by Charles Muller, University of Tokyo. DDB Access gives access to DDB and CJKV-E from iPhone and iPad. DDB Access is a free application. Any user may access the dictionary by entering "guest" as the username with no password. This will allow a total of 20 searches in each of the DDB and CJKV-E dictionaries in a 24-hour period. Contributors can get unlimited access by submitting a 350+ word entry as specified at http://www.buddhism-dict.net/contribute.html DDB and CJKV-E are primarily resources for scholars. Contributors are required to have completed a graduate degree to at least the equivalent of the M.A. level in graduate school program at a fully accredited university, where one has received direct formal training in the reading of classical East Asian Buddhist texts. DDB Access also contains a demo (WIP) of Séraphin Couvreur's "Dictionnaire classique de la langue chinoise" which supports most of its translations with example sentences and their sources. SEARCH Search dictionaries by Chinese, pinyin or translation. PARSE AND LOOKUP After copying a full text, SmartHanzi provides immediate access to unknown words. The app shows links to related words (also in, contained) and character details: character series (Kangxi, etymology). With this perspective beyond immediate usage, one gets naturally familiar with words and characters. It also recognizes multiple traditional variants. For instance, searching 真 (or finding 真 in a text) will show both 真 and 眞, according to what is present in selected dictionaries. Or it will recognize equally well 為 / 爲 or 眾 / 衆. Texts or individual words can be read aloud with Apple voices. ETYMOLOGY Along centuries, Chinese writing has developed a number of reference points, reasonable or simply traditional, well known by most Chinese: "Se non è vero, è ben trovato". Character series emphasize these reference points. All character series available for the current character are easily accessible. DICTIONARIES The application also includes general dictionaries for scholars working on Buddhist texts with literary or historical terminology, and a first demo of the "Couvreur" dictionary for Classical Chinese. USER INTERFACE User chooses to show pronunciations in Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Vietnamese. Lookup is easily customizable to just show preferred details and keep presentation clear. On iPad, landscape orientation, the app can show either in full screen (with both parse and lookup parts visible) or multiple applications: smartphone-like format side by side with the original text. MAC VERSION A dedicated Mac version is on Mac App Store.

About

Standard Dictionary

Features
Read full description

Standard Dictionary Standard Dictionary offers worldwide Chinese learners a tool to learn Chinese characters, including pronunciation, structure, component and so on. Standard Dictionary is designed for all levels of learner. The Standard Dictionary offers you: • Discover original meta components and find out all regular structures for each Chinese character; • Cover more than 8,000 Chinese characters even people just need 3500 to read 99.9% Chinese articles; • Pinyin included throughout; • Simplified and traditional forms of each Chinese character; • Over ten thousand of useful words, phrases, idioms and example sentences; • Related audio and videos; • Images for thousands of entries; Standard Dictionary is highly recommended by educators, parents, and media. Standard Dictionary is named by the surname of Dr. John Chu, which is the writer of this dictionary.

Screenshots

DDB Access4 screens
Standard Dictionary3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DDB Access at none against Standard Dictionary's 10. Standard Dictionary's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Standard Dictionary sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. DDB Access asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
DDB Access versus Standard Dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDDB AccessStandard Dictionary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size278 MB87 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperJean SOULATClavis Sinica Limited

In-app purchases

None

DDB Access

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Standard Dictionary

One-time10
  • 1.99点券$1.99
  • Secondary directory(Proxy)$7.99
  • 9.99点券$9.99
Show 7 more
  • 14.99点券$14.99
  • First level directory(Proxy)$17.99
  • Monthly membership(Proxy)$17.99
  • Monthly membership$19.99
  • 29.99点券$29.99
  • Annual membership(Proxy)$189.99
  • Annual membership$199.99

Questions

Is DDB Access free?
DDB Access is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Standard Dictionary free?
Standard Dictionary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DDB Access or Standard Dictionary have ads?
Neither DDB Access nor Standard Dictionary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DDB Access or Standard Dictionary?
DDB Access ships an update every 2 months, and Standard Dictionary every 2 months. Most recently, DDB Access was updated on September 8, 2026 and Standard Dictionary on September 14, 2026.

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