Cantonese Keyboard vs 说文解字
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cantonese Keyboard
This input method allows for fast and accurate Cantonese typing using the Jyutping romanization scheme. It offers various input methods, tone support, and reverse lookup options, all while being ad-free and offline for enhanced privacy.
- Jyutping input (standard and abbreviated)
- Tone input for pronunciation accuracy
- Reverse lookup via Pinyin, Cangjie, and more
- Traditional and Simplified Chinese support
- Emoji suggestions
- Multiple keyboard layouts
- Offline functionality
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Jyutping is a Cantonese input method that is intuitive and efficient—making typing fast, accurate, and effortless. Type Cantonese just as you speak it — naturally and fluently. Every input reinforces your pronunciation. The more you use Jyutping, the more familiar you become with Cantonese. Ready to use right out of the box, with virtually no complicated setup. Open source, ad-free, and fully offline — no privacy concerns. Based on the Jyutping romanization scheme developed by the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong (LSHK), and compatible with various spelling habits. You can perform reverse lookup of Jyutping using Mandarin Pinyin, Cangjie, Quick (Sucheng), Stroke input, and character decomposition. Detailed explanations are available within the app. Keyboard feature highlights: • Standard Jyutping input, e.g. neihou → 你好 • Abbreviated Jyutping input, e.g. nh / nhou / neih → 你好 • Tone input support for greater accuracy, helping learners master Cantonese tones and pronunciation • Candidate words display corresponding Jyutping syllables, making typing easier while reinforcing correct pronunciation • Supports both Traditional and Simplified Chinese characters, with Traditional characters distinguishing between Hong Kong and Taiwan standards • Reverse lookup via Mandarin Pinyin: prefix with R (e.g. rlin → 林) • Reverse lookup via Cangjie or Quick (Sucheng): prefix with V (e.g. vdd → 林) • Reverse lookup via stroke input: prefix with X (e.g. xwsad → 木) • Reverse lookup via character decomposition: prefix with Q (e.g. qmukmuk → 林) • Emoji suggestions that match Cantonese expressions, e.g. daai cung (大蟲) suggests the tiger emoji • A rich vocabulary tailored to Cantonese usage and grammar for smooth, natural typing • Includes common English vocabulary for seamless bilingual input • Multiple keyboard layouts available: 26-key QWERTY, 26-key triple-spell, 10-key (T9), 14-key, 18-key, etc. • Fully supports light and dark modes, with adjustable keyboard height • Convenient editing tools: copy, cut, paste, and cursor movement • Optional sound and haptic feedback, with adjustable vibration intensity The main app provides extensive Cantonese resources for convenient learning and reference: • Detailed guides for using all Jyutping keyboard functions • Jyutping scheme tables of initials, finals, and tones • Common Cantonese phrases and expressions • Pronunciations of commonly used Cantonese words • Cantonese pronunciation lookup and dictionary search • Text-to-Jyutping conversion • Cantonese text-to-speech We respect user privacy and do not collect any personal information. This app is fully open source on GitHub: https://github.com/yuetyam/jyutping To learn more about Jyutping and Cantonese keyboards, visit our official website: https://jyutping.app
说文解字
Explore the origins and evolution of Chinese characters with this digital etymological dictionary. It meticulously restores ancient texts, offering detailed information on pronunciation, stroke count, and character roots. Discover the earliest forms and meanings of characters through multiple search options.
- OCR ancient text restoration
- Complete 540 radical system
- Multiple search methods (radical, pinyin, smart)
- Detailed character information
- Study character evolution and culture
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Shuowen Jiezi is a classic Chinese etymological dictionary compiled by the Eastern Han scholar Xu Shen. It is the first Chinese dictionary organized by radicals, containing 540 radicals and 9,353 Chinese characters, and it established the radical-based indexing system widely used in later dictionaries. Based on the original ancient text, the Shuowen Jiezi APP has been carefully redesigned and digitized. Using OCR restoration technology, the app faithfully restores the original content and the complete 540-radical system, presenting the earliest forms, origins, and meanings of Chinese characters in a modern and accessible way. The app supports multiple search methods, including radical search, pinyin search, and smart search. Each character includes detailed information such as pronunciation, stroke count, radicals, structure, character origins, and explanations. Definitions are referenced from the original Shuowen Jiezi text, making it useful for studying the evolution of Chinese characters and traditional Chinese culture. 【Features】 1. OCR Ancient Text Restoration High-definition restoration of the original Shuowen Jiezi ancient text using OCR technology, bringing back authentic character origins and ancient glyphs. 2. Complete 540 Radical System Fully restores the 540-radical system from Shuowen Jiezi, helping users explore the structure and evolution of Chinese characters. 3. Multiple Search Methods Supports radical search, pinyin search, and smart search for fast and convenient lookup. Shuowen Jiezi is part of the KuaiKuaiCha dictionary series, designed for students, teachers, Chinese language learners, calligraphy enthusiasts, and traditional Chinese culture researchers. 【KuaiKuaiCha Series Includes】 Chinese Dictionary, Idiom Dictionary, Kangxi Dictionary, Shuowen Jiezi, and more. Contact / Feedback: [1353223754@qq.com](mailto:1353223754@qq.com)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Cantonese Keyboard at 4.9 against 说文解字's 1.0. Cantonese Keyboard also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). 说文解字's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence 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. 说文解字 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Cantonese Keyboard asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cantonese Keyboard holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cantonese Keyboard has 46 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Cantonese Keyboard ships an update fortnightly, 说文解字 every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Cantonese Keyboard | 说文解字 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (46 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 46 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 66 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 兵 张 | Zzhuhai Chestnut Network Technology Co.Ltd |
Customer experience
Cantonese Keyboard
说文解字
In-app purchases
Cantonese Keyboard
No in-app purchases
说文解字
- 一年期会员$14.99









