Nciku

Nciku

Nciku is an online Chinese dictionary and language learning website and app. It provides definitions, pronunciations, example sentences, stroke order diagrams, and more for Chinese characters, words, and phrases.
chinese dictionary language-learning

Nciku: Online Chinese Dictionary & Language Learning

Nciku is an online Chinese dictionary and language learning website and app. It provides definitions, pronunciations, example sentences, stroke order diagrams, and more for Chinese characters, words, and phrases.

What is Nciku?

Nciku is a popular online Chinese dictionary and language learning platform. It was launched in 2005 by Nciku.com founder Mark Grimes and his wife Haodong Chen. The site contains one of the largest databases of definitions, pronunciations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences for Chinese words, characters, and phrases.

Some key features of Nciku include:

  • Stroke order diagrams and animated stroke order videos to demonstrate how to write Chinese characters correctly.
  • Pronunciation recordings in Mandarin Chinese provided for vocabulary words and example sentences.
  • Support for simplified Chinese characters used in Mainland China as well as traditional Chinese characters used in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
  • Partnership with Caijing magazine to provide current Chinese news articles along with definitions for highlighted vocabulary.
  • Customized vocabulary lists and flashcard sets for effective memorization.
  • Integrations with Pleco and Skritter to enable study between multiple platforms.

In addition to its extensive dictionary capabilities, Nciku also contains lessons, quizzes, and other resources for learning Chinese. The website and mobile app work seamlessly together to provide a robust platform for looking up Chinese vocabulary quickly and for studying Chinese effectively for students of all levels.

Nciku Features

Features

  1. Dictionary with over 100,000 entries
  2. Stroke order animations and handwriting recognition
  3. Example sentences and pronunciations
  4. Flashcards and quizzes
  5. Text translator
  6. Offline mode

Pricing

  • Freemium
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Comprehensive Chinese dictionary

Useful learning tools

Available on multiple platforms

Free version available

Cons

Limited features in free version

Can be slow at times

Some translations not entirely accurate


The Best Nciku Alternatives

Top Education & Reference and Dictionaries & Translation and other similar apps like Nciku


Pleco icon

Pleco

Pleco is a mobile app developed for learning Chinese and as a Chinese dictionary reference. First released in 2001, Pleco aims to provide comprehensive tools and content for intermediate to advanced Chinese language learners.Key features of Pleco include:Dictionary with 300,000+ word entries including Pinyin, English definitions, stroke order, sample sentences,...
Pleco image
YellowBridge icon

YellowBridge

YellowBridge is a popular free online Chinese dictionary and language learning website and app. It was created by John Pasden, a writer and Chinese language expert living in Shanghai.Some key features of YellowBridge include:Chinese to English dictionary with over 100,000 entriesPronunciations for Chinese words using pinyin RomanizationExample sentences showing Chinese...
YellowBridge image
Syng icon

Syng

Syng is an open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) and music synthesizer created by Marcus Williams and released under the GNU General Public License. It is designed to be a user-friendly, cross-platform tool for music production, providing capabilities for audio recording, MIDI sequencing and editing, software synthesis, sampling, and mixing.Some key...
Syng image
Wenlin icon

Wenlin

Wenlin is a comprehensive dictionary and learning platform for students of Chinese. First released in 1997, it has become one of the most popular Chinese learning software among students and educators.Some key features of Wenlin include:Lookup for over 90,000 Chinese words and phrases with Pinyin pronunciation, English definitions, strokes, radicals,...
Wenlin image
Hanping Chinese Dictionary icon

Hanping Chinese Dictionary

Hanping Chinese Dictionary is a comprehensive Chinese-English bilingual dictionary app that helps users look up Chinese words, characters, phrases, and sentences. It is available for iOS and Android devices.Key features include:Handwriting recognition - Users can use a finger or stylus to draw Chinese characters to look them up in the...
Hanping Chinese Dictionary image
ChineseSkill icon

ChineseSkill

ChineseSkill is an online language learning platform designed specifically for learning Chinese. It provides a comprehensive Chinese learning curriculum that covers reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.Key features of ChineseSkill include:Interactive audio lessons that teach vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and cultureExtensive flashcard system to reinforce memorization of new words and charactersWriting...
MDBG English to Chinese dictionary icon

MDBG English to Chinese dictionary

MDBG is a feature-rich, free online English to Chinese dictionary and language learning tool. It provides Chinese translations, Pinyin romanizations, and stroke order animations for over 170,000 English words and 20,000 phrases.Key features include:Intuitive search allows looking up words by Pinyin, English, or Chinese charactersDisplays Chinese translations, Mandarin Pinyin pronunciations,...
MDBG English to Chinese dictionary image
Chinese Tutor Dictionary icon

Chinese Tutor Dictionary

Chinese Tutor Dictionary is a comprehensive Chinese language learning app designed for beginners to advanced students. It includes a wide range of features to help build vocabulary and improve reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.The app contains a dictionary with over 100,000 words and phrases. Each entry includes stroke order...
YiXue Chinese Dictionary icon

YiXue Chinese Dictionary

YiXue Chinese Dictionary is a free online Chinese-English dictionary and translation tool developed by YiXue Education. It has a clean, intuitive interface that allows users to easily look up Chinese vocabulary words and phrases.Users can search for Chinese words or phrases by entering pinyin with tone marks or by entering...
YiXue Chinese Dictionary image