iPhone & Apple Watch · Free
The Ultimate Chinese Phrasebook App in 2026
Chinese Phrasebook — Speak is the offline Mandarin phrasebook for iPhone and iPad. Tap any phrase to hear native audio, read the Pinyin with tone marks, and see a word-by-word breakdown — built for the phrases you'll actually use.
Features
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30 real-world categories
Transport, Food, Hotel, Shopping, Dating, Small Talk, Nightlife and more — organized around the moments you actually face, not vocabulary lists.
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Native Mandarin audio
Tap any phrase to hear it spoken by a native voice at full or slow speed, so you can catch every syllable before you say it out loud.
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Pinyin with tone marks
Every phrase shows its Pinyin with tone marks, so you know exactly how to pronounce it even if you can't read the characters yet.
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Word-by-word breakdowns
See each phrase taken apart word by word, with teaching notes that explain the nuance so the meaning sticks.
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Favorites cheat sheet
Heart the phrases you use most into a personal list you can pull up in seconds — no scrolling through categories mid-conversation.
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Works fully offline
Everything runs on your device. No accounts, no logins, and no connection required — the phrasebook works on the plane, in the metro and out of signal.
Screenshots
Heart the phrases you keep reaching for and they collect into a favorites list — your own cheat sheet, ready in seconds at the counter or the gate.
Every phrase opens to native Mandarin audio at full or slow speed, Pinyin with tone marks, and a word-by-word breakdown with teaching notes that explain the nuance.
How it works
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Pick a category
Browse 30 real-world categories and open the one you need — Transport for the metro, Food for the noodle shop, Hotel for check-in.
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Tap a phrase to hear it
Tap any phrase for native Mandarin audio at full or slow speed, read the Pinyin tone marks and check the word-by-word breakdown.
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Save your favorites
Heart the phrases you'll reuse so they're waiting in your favorites — your personal cheat sheet for the rest of the trip.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is Chinese Phrasebook free?
The app is free to download and you can start using it right away. Full access requires a subscription, and a free trial is available — you can use the app and start your trial before paying.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Everything runs on your device — phrases, audio, Pinyin and breakdowns all work offline, with no account or internet connection required.
Does it teach Pinyin and tones?
Every phrase shows its Pinyin with tone marks, so you can see exactly how to pronounce it. Paired with the native audio at full or slow speed, you learn the tones by hearing and reading them together.
Is there native Mandarin audio?
Yes. Tap any phrase to hear it spoken by a native Mandarin voice, at full speed or slowed down so you can catch each syllable.
How many phrases and categories are included?
There are 800+ phrases organized across 30 real-world categories, including Transport, Food, Hotel, Shopping, Dating, Small Talk and Nightlife.
Who is the app for?
It's built for travelers and expats who need the Mandarin phrases they'll actually use — at the airport, the convenience store, the metro, the hotel — without grammar drills or long vocabulary lists.
What are the word-by-word breakdowns?
Each phrase can be opened up word by word, with teaching notes that explain the nuance, so you understand why it's said that way and not just how.
Can I save my favorite phrases?
Yes. Heart any phrase to add it to your favorites — a personal cheat sheet you can pull up in seconds when you need it.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There are no accounts and no logins. The app runs entirely on your device, so you can just open it and start.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. It's a universal app that runs on both iPhone and iPad, so you can browse phrases on whichever device you have with you.
Say it right the first time.
Download Chinese Phrasebook and carry the Mandarin phrases you'll actually use — with native audio, Pinyin and offline access.
