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We have curated the following list of tools based on hands-on experience in the classroom and daily life. The Studio has no commercial relationship with these providers—we recommend them simply because we find them effective.
Dictionary
Dictionary
Google Translate - Good for a Quick Check-Up
Google Translate - Good for a Quick Check-Up
Google Translate is excellent for quickly checking words, sentences, and exploring the various meanings of specific characters. However, the major drawback is the audio. Because the pronunciation is auto-generated, it lacks natural native intonation—so even if the tones are technically correct, the flow often sounds robotic.
Hanzii is an exceptionally user-friendly tool designed for students. Beyond a standard dictionary, it offers a robust suite of features including user accounts for tracking history, specialized HSK vocabulary lists, topic-based word banks, and digital notebooks. It even provides visual aids and images to make memorizing characters easier.
Notably, while the tool was developed by a team in Vietnam, its accuracy is high despite occasional errors, and it remains a reliable resource for learning authentic Chinese.
ZDIC (known in Chinese as Han Dian / 汉典) is a comprehensive, free online Chinese dictionary and reference tool widely respected for its academic depth and authority. It is a digital encyclopedia for Chinese characters.
What makes it good:
Multimedia Tools: The site provides audio pronunciations (real person voice, not robotic voice), stroke order animations, and a vast library of calligraphy samples from historical masters.
For the benefit of more advanced students, it goes far beyond a standard dictionary to include deep etymology and historical analysis (in Chinese). For many characters, it displays ancient script forms and cites classical sources.
It includes dedicated sections for classical literature and poetry, making it an essential tool for advanced learners, researchers, and native speakers interested in the roots of the language.
Note: English translations on ZDIC are provided but limited; you will need to scroll down to find them. Please be aware that this dictionary is primarily built for native speakers, not specifically for learners.
Mobile Apps
Duolingo Chinese - Help Get Started
Duolingo Chinese - Help Get Started
Duolingo Chinese is useful, but only as a side dish, not the main course. It helps absolute beginners build confidence and build their learning habit.
But it is not for students who want to learn how to speak naturally. The main issue is tone deafness: Duolingo does not effectively correct your tones. You can often pass a speaking exercise by mumbling, which builds bad habits that are very hard for a human teacher to fix later.
Recommended Use:
Use Duolingo to keep your daily streak alive and drill vocabulary. However, do not trust it for pronunciation.
HelloChinese - Use it as the Gym
HelloChinese - Use it as the Gym
HelloChinese is a better alternative to Duolingo because of two reasons:
Real Native Audio: Unlike the robotic voices, HelloChinese uses recordings of real human speakers. This is crucial for training the ear to hear subtle tones and emotional intonation.
"Teacher Talk" & "Immerse": (Paid Feature) They have excellent video clips of native speakers using the vocabulary in real life. This bridges the gap between "textbook Chinese" and "street Chinese."
Recommended Use:
Repeat the audio content out loud (Shadowing), trying to mimic their exact speed and emotion. This transforms a passive clicking game into an active speaking drill.
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