Setting out to explore the fascinating landscape of China can be thrilling, yet the language differences might seem daunting. While English may not be widely spoken, especially in rural areas, technology offers a savvy solution to overcome communication hurdles. Here's a list of the top seven language translation apps that will assist you during your travels in China, possibly enriching your language skills along the way.
Pleco
Pleco stands out as a trusted app among Chinese language learners. It's considered an indispensable companion for China-bound travelers. The basic app is a robust dictionary providing reliable English-Chinese translations. While its core services are free, Pleco offers premium add-ons, including real-time camera text translation and handwriting recognition - tools that many expatriates swear by.
Cost: Free with optional premium features
Google Translate
Google Translate dominates the translation app market, offering voice and text translations across over 50 languages, functioning offline too. The app's latest update flaunts an innovative image translation feature, allowing camera-assisted textual translations. Its accessibility and user-friendly interface are enhanced by its availability in China sans a VPN, a typical requirement for Google services.
Cost: Free
Naver Papago Translate
Papago is a Korean app that has become a haven for English speakers in China. A multitasking wizard, it handles text, voice, conversation, and image translations without a fee. Although it works with a limited 10 languages, English and Chinese are included. Perfect for the multi-country Asian traveler, it also supports Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian languages.
Cost: Free
WayGo
WayGo specializes in rescuing diners from the perplexity of Chinese-only menus. Just a quick camera snap translates the text into English. The app shines for its no-need-for-internet feature and dishes out 10 free translations daily. However, expect some translation hiccups, especially with stylized text or hefty book pages.
Cost: Free with limited daily translations
iTranslate Voice
iTranslate Voice transforms your voice into over 40 languages. Simple and efficient: choose your languages, speak clearly into the mic, and the app promptly converts your speech. Speaking slowly heightens the translation accuracy, making iTranslate Voice a handy digital interpreter.
Cost: Free with additional purchases
Baidu Translate
China's answer to Google, Baidu's search engine prowess extends to its translation app. The app excels with voice translation and a groundbreaking image recognition feature. Snap a photo, and the app endeavors to identify and translate the pictured object. While it's a mixed bag on accuracy, Baidu Translate's innovations make it an exciting choice for travelers. Regardless of its Chinese app store description, the app's interface primarily uses English.
Cost: Free with some in-app purchases
SayHi
SayHi ensures instant and accurate voice translations in over 30 languages, Chinese included. It's a beacon of reliability for travelers seeking real-time translation, though it does require WiFi or a data connection, which may not be ideal for adventurers on the move.
Cost: Free
