In addition to these great features and a user-friendly interface, Google Translate no longer requires a VPN to work in China (unlike other Google apps), making this a great all-around addition to your app library. The newest version of the Google Translate app also includes an image translation option, so you can translate text just by pointing your camera at it. Google Translate offers voice and text translations into more than 50 languages and doesn’t require an internet connection. Google Translate is easily the most accurate, comprehensive, and widely used of all the translation apps available. Any expat in China will tell you that Pleco is the way to go when it comes to English-Chinese translation apps. Pleco also offers several paid add-ons (that can be pricey), including one that translates text via your smartphone camera on the spot and one that will recognize characters that you draw by hand on your phone screen. It offers a reliable translator of English words and phrases that is very accurate.
#Cantonese translator with voice download#
The free version of Pleco that you download from the app store is essentially a dictionary. Pleco is the go-to app for Chinese learners, and it is a necessary addition to your app library if you will be visiting China anytime soon. These seven language apps will help you get by while in China, and maybe even learn a little Chinese along the way. Luckily, technology has an answer for almost everything, and translation is no exception. If you’ll be venturing into the countryside, English will be even harder to come by. Excited for your trip to China, but worried about the language barrier? While English is commonly spoken in other parts of the world, it’s true that you’re less likely to come across Anglophones in China.