Ready to dive into the world of Traditional Chinese? Okay, those characters might make your head spin at first. But here’s the thing – your little phone is basically your pocket-sized language teacher! We’re talking apps to learn Traditional Chinese packed with games, interactive lessons, and all sorts of tools to unlock the secrets of Chinese writing.
I’m obsessed with finding the best language apps out there—the ones that make learning a blast. Seriously, I’ve tried a ton (some were kind of “meh”), but I also unearthed some serious gems. Apps like the Ling app take a totally different approach. It’s surprisingly addictive (in a good way!). More on that and other awesome Chinese learning apps in just a bit!
Table Of Contents
1. Ling App – Best Language App To Learn Traditional Chinese
Okay, if flashcards give you flashbacks to those awful pop quizzes in school, the Ling app is about to change your mind. This app turns learning Chinese into this weird, addictive combo of puzzle-solving and leveling up in a video game.
Think of matching characters you’ve never seen before to their meanings or building sentences with scrambled tiles. It also covers those tricky tones—but in a surprisingly painless way!
Let’s talk about that chatbot feature because, honestly, it’s kind of mind-blowing. It’s way more than just filling in blanks—you’re actually having back-and-forth conversations. The Ling app even picks up on your pronunciation and gives you tips to improve.
Plus, they’ve got these surprisingly challenging listening games (way more fun than I expected!) and flashcards that force you to think, not just memorize. Ling’s all about turning that knowledge into real-world Chinese skills.
Transform Your Chinese Language Skills in a Week – Get the Ling app Today!
Devices: Android, iOS, Web
Features
- Personalized Learning Path: Go through Ling’s lessons in any order you want, focusing on those aspects that matter the most to you.
- Spaced Repetition: Ensures those complex characters stick through optimized reviews.
- Community Competition: Sparks motivation and challenges you against other learners mastering the language with its leaderboards.
Pricing
- Free with beginner lessons and an introductory Chatbot.
- Monthly: $14.99
- Yearly: $79.99 (7-day free trial)
- Lifetime: $149.99
2. ChatGPT – Best Supplement For Apps To Learn Traditional Chinese
With ChatGPT, we’re talking real-time conversations about anything – your latest food obsession, that movie you love (or hate!), or even silly stuff like what your pet is up to. Mispronounce something? It’ll gently catch your mistakes and help you nail those tricky tones. And who needs flashcards when you can learn through AI conversation?
But what if Traditional Chinese grammar makes you feel like your brain might explode? ChatGPT will break down the tricky stuff in a way that actually makes sense. You can even design your own vocabulary quizzes complete with example sentences—ditch those boring lists and focus on the words you really care about!
Think of ChatGPT as a super helpful Chinese language app to use alongside your main learning app, like the Ling app. It adds a layer of fun practice and personalized support while you build your Traditional Chinese skills.
Devices: Android, iOS, Web
Features
- Contextual Conversations: Helps you practice natural, real-life conversations, adapting responses based on what you say in Chinese.
- Grammar Feedback: Instantly identifies and corrects your grammar errors mid-conversation, helping you build accuracy in written and spoken Chinese.
- Creative Writing Assistant: Provides brainstorming ideas and writing prompts to boost your creative writing skills in Chinese.
Pricing
- Free with GPT-3.5 access.
- Plus: $20/month, adds GPT-4 access and more features.
- Team: $25/user/month annually or $30 monthly, including advanced tools and admin features.
- Enterprise: Offers unlimited access and advanced administration options.
3. Pleco – Best For Building Traditional Chinese Vocabulary
Pleco is a supercharged dictionary, reading assistant, and flashcard master all in one. It offers lightning-fast searches (even in English if those characters make your brain fuzzy!), pro dictionaries, and audio pronunciations to help you conquer those tones. And it’s actually nice to look at – trust me, that matters!
But Pleco’s best feature is that it helps you use Chinese in real life. You can import articles or use your camera to translate signs and menus on the fly.
Struggle with handwriting? It’s got super smooth practice mode. While apps like ChatGPT are amazing for conversation practice, and the Ling app excels with its gamified approach, Pleco is where you go for hardcore vocabulary building and deciphering those crazy-looking passages.
Devices: Android, iOS
Features
- Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Effortlessly translates printed characters using your phone’s camera. Perfect for deciphering signs or menus while you’re out and about.
- Handwriting Recognition: Deciphers your handwritten characters and provides definitions, which is crucial for practice.
- Stroke Order Animations: Teaches you the precise way to write Chinese characters for clear, correct written communication.
Pricing
- Basic Bundle: $29.99
- Professional Bundle: $59.99
- In-app purchases: Varies from $4.99 to $59.99
4. Du Chinese: Best For Improving Reading Comprehension
If you’re one of the language learners who learn Chinese best by doing, Du Chinese might be your jam. This app ditches boring textbooks and instead lets you dive into tons of articles and stories, all carefully graded to your skill level.
Here’s the magic: as you read, you’ll tap a word, and boom—instant translation, Pinyin, and even audio from native Chinese speakers to perfect your pronunciation. Stumbling with a tricky grammar point? It’s got clear explanations to break it down while you build your personalized vocabulary flashcards, making learning new words feel almost effortless.
Whether you’re a beginner deciphering your first few characters or a pro looking for Chinese apps for advanced learners tackling news articles, Du Chinese has content for you. While Pleco is your ultimate Chinese dictionary and in-depth character lookup tool, Du Chinese is where you go to actually put that knowledge into action.
Devices: Android, iOS, Web
Features
- Integrated Audiobooks: Improves your Chinese listening skills by combining graded articles with native speaker audiobooks.
- Built-in Dictionary: Eliminates frustration with instant word lookups within the same article.
- Community Discussions: Engage in discussions about articles with other learners for deeper understanding and cultural insights.
Pricing
- Free with basic and limited features.
- Monthly Premium: $14.99
- 6 Months Premium: $89.94
- Yearly Premium: $119.99
5. Quizlet – Best For Versatile Studying And Knowledge Testing
If you thought Quizlet was all about boring flashcards, think again! This app has gotten a serious upgrade with over 700 million flashcards on basically any topic, practice quizzes, games, and AI-powered tools to make learning stick.
Need to review vocabulary? It’s there. Want to turn your class notes into a quick test? Boom, done. Feeling stumped by a homework problem? You might just find a step-by-step solution to save the day.
Quizlet is a dynamic way to test your knowledge, get creative, and actually retain all that stuff for the long term. And with such a huge user community, you’ll discover awesome study material created by other students, so you don’t have to always start from scratch. It’s definitely worth trying if you want a fun, personalized way to ace your next exam!
Devices: Android, iOS, Web
Features
- Customizable Flashcards: Create personalized flashcards with text, images, or audio for targeted vocabulary practice.
- Practice Quizzes: Test your knowledge with customizable quizzes or use community-made quizzes for additional learning resources.
- Shared Study Sets: Access vast libraries of user-created flashcards, providing a variety of learning materials to explore.
Pricing
- Free access to flashcards with limits.
- Monthly Premium: $7.99
- Yearly Premium: $35.99
6. DangDai Chinese – Best For Learning Traditional Chinese Basics
DangDai Chinese takes a serious approach to learning. Its structured course, powered by Mandarin Training Center (MTC) teaching experts, is all about building a solid foundation.
So, what makes DangDai tick? Well, for starters, you can practice both Simplified and Traditional characters. Need translations or Pinyin? You can toggle them on and off to challenge yourself.
But my favorite part? They break down those crazy-looking characters stroke by stroke. Plus, get this – it focuses heavily on speaking practice and drills designed to get you actually using Chinese.
I’ll admit, DangDai can feel a tad more serious than the games and quizzes on the Ling app. But hey, if you’re the kind who craves that guided, structured approach, it’s worth considering. Of course, if you want a super fun and comprehensive way to learn Traditional Chinese, the Ling app is hands-down the winner.
Devices: Android, iOS
Features
- Structured Coursework: Provides a clear learning path for mastering those fundamental characters and grammar rules.
- Traditional & Simplified Options: Allows you to practice writing Chinese characters and learn both styles for broader fluency.
- Speaking Drills: Emphasizes practical application of vocabulary with exercises that help you get comfortable speaking the language.
Pricing
- Free with in-app purchases ranging from $4.99 to $12.99.
7. Living Chinese App – Best For Story-Based Learning
Living Chinese focuses on stories. Yep, you read that right. Those Chinese words you see on signs or hear on the street? This app injects them with life, weaving them into fun animations, comics, and even picture books.
Now, here’s the catch. This app is specifically designed for non-Chinese-speaking students living in Hong Kong, focusing on themes like family, school, and everyday life. While it’s a fantastic way to learn basic conversational Chinese and explore Hong Kong culture, it won’t turn you into a fluent wordsmith.
So, if you’re serious about learning Traditional Chinese from the ground up, Living Chinese might not be your best first move. But hey, if you’re chilling in Hong Kong and want a fun, story-based intro to the language, this app could be just the ticket!
Devices: Android, iOS
Features
- Story-Based Learning: Focuses on learning conversational Chinese through engaging stories.
- Real-Life Themes: Covers everyday situations relevant to life in Hong Kong, helpful if you’re planning to live there or have an interest in the region.
- “Experiencing Learning” Section: Encourages practical use of Cantonese through real-world activities, building confidence for real-life communication.
Pricing
- The Living Chinese app is completely free to use.
8. HelloChinese – Best For Beginners
Look, if you’re dead set on becoming fluent in Chinese, the Ling app is the undisputed champion. But hey, what if learning feels like a chore? HelloChinese injects some serious fun into the mix!
Think games, stories, and even videos starring real Chinese folks. That’s not all! HelloChinese has your back on pronunciation with speech recognition and even helps you master Traditional Chinese characters with its handwriting practice feature.
It’s not a silver bullet for fluency, but if you want a fun intro to Mandarin and a taste of Chinese culture and its people, HelloChinese is a great way to get your feet wet. But you know what? The Ling app can do all those things, minus the stories and videos, of course.
Devices: Android, iOS
Features
- Game-Based Learning: Injects fun into the process, making it easier to stay engaged and motivated when learning characters.
- 1000+ Graded Stories: Offers a wide range of stories tailored to your skill level, from beginner to more advanced.
- Immersive Lessons: Prepares you for real-world scenarios, helping you use the language in practical ways.
Pricing
- Monthly Premium: $4.99 to $8.99
- Monthly Premium Plus: $12.49 to $19.99
Why Learn Traditional Chinese?
If you think Mandarin is the only Chinese language that matters, it’s not! Traditional Chinese is the OG script, a doorway to ancient history, rich culture, and other connections. Here’s why learning those intricate characters with apps to learn Traditional Chinese is totally worth the effort:
- History Buff’s Dream: Traditional Chinese characters have thousands of years of history embedded in them. Learning them is like unlocking a treasure chest of cultural knowledge.
- Tap into the Classics: Want to read ancient Chinese literature and philosophy in their original form? Traditional Chinese is a must.
- Connect with Communities: Taiwan, Hong Kong, and many overseas Chinese communities still primarily use Traditional Characters. Learning them opens up new opportunities for friendships and cultural exchange.
- Brain Booster: Studies suggest that learning complex characters like those used in Traditional Chinese can enhance memory and cognitive flexibility.
- Stand Out from the Crowd: While many learners focus on Simplified Chinese, mastering Traditional gives you a unique edge and demonstrates a deeper commitment to the language.
- Business Boost: Many businesses have strong ties with Taiwan and Hong Kong, where Traditional Chinese is the standard. Knowing it gives you a serious advantage.
- Student Success: Planning to study in Taiwan or a region where Traditional Chinese is used? Learning the characters puts you ahead of the game.
- Travel Like a Pro: Navigating signs, menus, and cultural sites is so much easier when you can read Traditional Chinese. It’s the key to a more authentic travel experience.
Which Among The Apps To Learn Traditional Chinese Is Best?
To be extremely honest, no apps to learn Traditional Chinese can offer instant fluency. Each has its strengths. If you enjoy stories, apps like Du Chinese or Living Chinese are great additions to your arsenal. Need conversational practice? ChatGPT is your AI language buddy. And for drilling those characters, Pleco is a lifesaver.
But for serious learners who want a comprehensive, fun, and effective way to master Traditional Chinese? The Ling app takes the crown. It’s adaptive learning, gamified challenges, and AI chatbot set it apart.
Ready to see for yourself? Download the Ling app now on Google Play or the App Store and take charge of your Traditional Chinese journey. Grab that 7-day free trial and watch your skills take flight!
