Comparison

说文解字 vs 汉字起源

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • OCR ancient text restoration
  • Complete 540 radical system
  • Multiple search methods (radical, pinyin, smart)
  • Detailed character information
  • Study character evolution and culture
Features
Read full description

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)

About

汉字起源

Read full description

汉字起源带你从源头认识汉字。 · 字源演变:一字多看甲骨文、金文、篆书、隶书、楷书,理解汉字如何一步步变成今天的模样。 · 每日一字:每天一个精选汉字,配释义、演变与例句,养成学字习惯。 · 字源课堂:按主题学字,从字形、字义到文化背景,系统了解汉字起源。 · 甲骨文描红:在屏幕上临摹甲骨文,亲手体验古老文字的书写乐趣。 · 练字:跟写楷书,保存作品,适合孩子启蒙与成人练字。 · 字源故事与朗读:听汉字背后的故事,加深记忆与兴趣。 · 趣味游戏:看图猜字、配对、谜语等,在玩中学汉字。 适合家长带孩子做汉字启蒙,也适合对汉字演变、书法与传统文化感兴趣的用户。从一笔一画开始,发现汉字的美与智慧。

Screenshots

说文解字4 screens
汉字起源4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 汉字起源 at none against 说文解字's 1. 汉字起源 also leads on ads (none vs shown). 说文解字's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). On 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

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
说文解字 versus 汉字起源: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter说文解字汉字起源
PriceFree — better—
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperZzhuhai Chestnut Network Technology Co.LtdMin Lan

In-app purchases

1 purchases

说文解字

One-time1
  • 一年期会员$14.99
None

汉字起源

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 说文解字 free?
说文解字 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is 汉字起源 free?
Pricing for 汉字起源 is not currently listed on the App Store.
Do 说文解字 or 汉字起源 have ads?
说文解字 shows ads; 汉字起源 does not.

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