Pleco is the most reliable offline Chinese dictionary app available for mobile devices.

It’s an essential tool for looking up unknown words, reading text, and practicing pronunciation.

You can use it to search for vocabulary in English, pinyin, or Chinese characters.

I’ll show you exactly how to get the most out of this app on your phone.

Setting up the basic dictionary

You can download Pleco for free on both iOS and Android.

The basic free version comes with a massive database of words.

It also includes high-quality audio recordings by native speakers.

The layout is extremely minimal and easy to navigate.

A search bar sits at the very top of your screen.

This is where you’ll do the majority of your word lookups.

Searching by pinyin and translation

You can type directly into the search bar using standard English letters.

If you hear a word and know the pinyin, simply type it in.

You can add numbers at the end of syllables to specify tones.

Typing “ni3” will filter the search to only show characters pronounced with a third tone.

Here’s a breakdown of how Pleco numbers correspond to Mandarin tones.

When you find the correct word, tap on it to view the full definition.

You’ll immediately see the character, pinyin, translation, and example sentences.

Drawing characters with handwriting

Sometimes you’ll see a Chinese character but have no idea how it sounds.

Pleco offers a free handwriting input tool for this exact situation.

Tap the paintbrush icon next to the search bar to open a drawing pad.

Use your finger to trace the character directly onto your screen.

The app will suggest a list of matching characters at the bottom.

Pleco is quite forgiving if you make a mistake with your stroke order.

Looking up characters by radicals

If your handwriting is too messy, you can search by character components instead.

These individual building blocks are known as Chinese radicals.

Tap the “RAD” button near the search bar to open the radical menu.

Count the number of strokes in the main part of your mystery character.

Select the matching radical from the generated list.

Pleco will display every character in the dictionary that contains this specific component.

Using the document reader

The clipboard reader is a powerful tool for reading Chinese articles and text messages.

Copy any Mandarin text to your phone’s clipboard.

Open Pleco and select “Clipboard Reader” from the side menu.

The app will instantly paste your text onto a clean reading page.

You can tap on any word you don’t recognize.

A pop-up definition will appear at the bottom of your screen.

This saves you from manually typing out every single unfamiliar word.

While Pleco handles the definitions, pairing it with a structured program like Talk In Mandarin will help you actively use these words in real conversations.

Creating custom flashcards

Pleco has a built-in flashcard system available as an inexpensive paid add-on.

This feature uses a spaced repetition system to test your memory over time.

You can add any dictionary entry to your deck by simply tapping the plus icon.

Organize your flashcards into custom categories based on the topics you’re studying.

The app automatically tracks your progress and shows you difficult words more frequently.

This turns a basic dictionary app into a complete daily study hub.