Are you learning Cantonese but only know Mandarin? Today is your lucky day. It’s easy! Start with a Mandarin to Cantonese translator!
When it comes to language learning, translators or translation apps are great tools. They help make communication easier at the beginning and bring us closer to our ultimate goal: to learn the language.
But we all know how difficult it is to work with an unfamiliar script, and even when Mandarin and Cantonese have many similar characters, sometimes you need some help. That’s why we’ve gathered these tools to translate from Mandarin to Cantonese. If you’d rather not rely on translators, you can learn Cantonese with the Ling app, but for now, let’s find the one that works best for you!
Microsoft Translator
While Microsoft’s Bing translator is a useful web option, Microsoft Translator takes things to another level. The app lets you translate text as usual but also translates conversations in real-time, text from images, and has voice recognition. You can also listen to the provided translation and share it with other apps. All in all, considering Google Translate does not support Cantonese, this might be one of the best apps for translating Mandarin to Cantonese.
Features
- Offline mode.
- Voice recognition.
- Single, split-screen, or full-screen view modes.
Pricing
- Free.
Devices: Android, iOS, Web.
Cantonese Translator
Cantonese Translator, developed by KoalaSky, is an app that translates between Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. It has a simple interface, but it does the trick. In addition to the usual text box, it has voice recognition and can read the output aloud. In sum, it has all the essential features, so it’s perfect if you don’t need anything too fancy.
Features
- Voice recognition.
- Only three languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, and English).
- Option to automatically speak the Cantonese translated text.
Pricing
- Free.
Devices: Android, iOS.
Stars21
Stars21 was started in 1999 to offer online translators, dictionaries, and encyclopedias. It’s a one-stop solution with features such as one-click search, global search, and batch search. With these options, Stars21 offers a faster and more user-friendly way to translate or look up something.
If you use this to translate Mandarin to Cantonese, just click “Chinese” for Mandarin and “Chinese_Classic” for Cantonese. This platform will not provide you with a romanized version of the word. So if you use it, make sure you can already read Chinese characters or use another platform to Romanize them (you’ll find a couple at the end of this post!).
Features
- Supports paragraph to paragraph translation.
- Options to use either Bing, BingStar, or Baidu as translators.
- Has a language identifier, which runs on a separate tab.
Pricing
- Free.
Devices: Web
Translatiz
Translatiz is another site that can translate Mandarin to Cantonese. It has a pretty straightforward interface, but it still has a complete step-by-step guide on how to use it, just in case. Furthermore, it allows you to copy and download the translated text and send it via WhatsApp and Telegram. A bonus feature is that, aside from translations, it shows some common phrases in Cantonese and Mandarin for you to learn.
Features
- Powered by Google API, Microsoft Translate, and Yandex.
- Option to translate Mandarin to 143 other languages.
- 1000-character limit for each conversion.
Pricing
- Free
Devices: Web.
iTranslate
Another app you can use to translate between Cantonese and Mandarin is iTranslate. Much like Microsoft Translator, it has voice recognition, can translate from images, and has an offline mode. What’s more, it has an interesting voice-to-voice feature that lets you have a conversation while translating in real time. And it even has a keyboard translator that saves you the trouble of switching between apps, although that’s a different product.
Features
- Voice-to-voice translation mode for conversations.
- Website translation.
- Includes dictionaries and phrasebooks.
Pricing
- Free version with limited features.
- Monthly: $5.99
- Yearly: $49.99
Devices: Android, iOS, Web.
MachineTranslation.com
Find it at: MachineTranslation.com
An AI-assisted aggregator, specializing in delivering comprehensive insights into translation quality by evaluating and comparing various machine translation engines. The platform is dedicated to extending the advantages of machine translation to small and medium-sized businesses, prioritizing rapid and cost-effective solutions.
Notably, MachineTranslation.com excels in Mandarin to Cantonese translation services, ensuring accurate and efficient language conversion between these Chinese dialects. Tomedes’ commitment to language services excellence is evident in the platform’s design, making it a reliable resource for businesses seeking swift, budget-friendly, and precise machine translation solutions, particularly in the context of Mandarin to Cantonese translation.
Features
- Incorporates the latest advances in AI and machine learning.
- Compares various machine translation engines.
- User-friendly interface.
Pricing
- Free plan with limited features.
- Starter Plan: $12.75 per month.
- Advanced Plan: $48.50 per month.
Devices: Web.
Bonus: Romanization Tools
When using these translators, you should know that Mandarin and Cantonese have different Romanization systems. This means there are different ways of writing them with the Roman (or Latin) script.
The standard Romanization system for Mandarin is Pinyin. Cantonese, on the other hand, can be Romanized with several systems:
- S. L. Wong’s Romanization
- Guangdong Romanization
- Cantonese Pinyin
- Jyutping
- Yale
- Sidney Lau
- Meyer–Wempe
That said, here are some tools that can help with the Romanization of Chinese characters:
Hong Kong Vision
Hong Kong Vision is a platform you can use to convert Chinese characters to Cantonese Pinyin. It supports traditional and simplified Chinese characters, and you can choose from three different ways to display the text.
Cantonese Tools
This site converts Cantonese text to Jyutping. To use Cantonese Tools, type Chinese text in the left box and click “convert.” In the right box, you’ll see the Chinese text’s Jyutping and have the option to copy it.
Why Should We Use Translators?
Language translators have revolutionized the way we communicate with other people. They can also be very helpful in your language learning journey, especially when you’re beginning to learn a new language, such as Cantonese. Although learning a language takes more than just machine translation, these platforms are still helpful in many ways.
- Not everyone speaks English: Even when English is one of the most popular languages in the world, assuming everyone speaks it would be a big mistake. Having a translator app can be a great help when dealing with locals who speak a different language.
- Global business: More and more enterprises are expanding worldwide and entering new markets. When a company moves to a new country, an accurate translation is essential not only for buyers and sellers to communicate, but for different employees to do so as well. What’s more, translation tools can also allow companies to reach a larger audience.
- Opportunities for developing countries: As developing countries join the global economy, their inhabitants are obtaining Internet access. Translation platforms aren’t just useful to facilitate their access to online content; they’re necessary.
- Save time and money: Finally, hiring a translator can be expensive. With translator apps and websites, you won’t need to spend as much money, because most translators that convert Mandarin to Cantonese are free. And you can also use them anytime you want!
Don’t Rely On Mandarin To Cantonese Translator Apps; Learn Cantonese With Ling!
If you’re looking for the best apps to learn Cantonese, there are tons of them. Translators are indeed helpful in learning a new language, but if you’re serious about learning Cantonese, you should use a tool that develops all your language skills. Thankfully, the Ling app provides a top-notch language learning experience.
Transform Your Cantonese Language Skills in a Week – Get the Ling App Today!
With Ling, you’re not just learning vocabulary. You’ll find gamified exercises that teach the nuances of the language while making the experience much more engaging. You’ll also learn Chinese characters by tracing them on your screen, and there’s even an AI chatbot for you to practice conversations in a safe environment. What’s even a bigger bonus is that you’ll hear the different Cantonese accents when practicing with the Ling app!
There’s much more to do with the Ling app. So don’t be contented with just translating! Download the app from the App Store or Play Store and start your learning journey!
