Traditional Chinese Resources, Apps, And Tools
If learning Traditional Chinese has ever felt like installing five apps, watching none of them behave, and then questioning your life choices in a Settings menu… you’re in the right place. This is the practical, opinionated toolkit: the few things that make the biggest difference, with links you can actually use.
Scroll like a strategist: grab one typing setup, one dictionary you trust, then one main learning app. Everything else is optional frosting.
- Start Here: typing (輸入法 shūrùfǎ) so you can search, message, and take notes without getting stuck.
- Then: a dictionary (字典 zìdiǎn) with audio + example sentences (例句 lìjù) so your lookups turn into real language.
- Next: a simple path (like TOCFL) if you want “what to learn next” without wandering forever.
Topic Name In Traditional Chinese: 工具與資源 (gōngjù yǔ zīyuán) — tools & resources
Example: 我在找學中文的工具與資源。 (Wǒ zài zhǎo xué Zhōngwén de gōngjù yǔ zīyuán.)
I’m looking for tools and resources to learn Chinese.
Quick Start Toolkit
If you only click five things today, click these. Your future self will be annoyingly grateful.
Typing Setup
Pick your device and get your input method working first.
Dictionary Apps
Stop guessing. Start checking. (Also: fewer awkward mistakes.)
Learning Apps
Adult-friendly apps, plus kid-friendly picks (because chaos is real).
Characters Help
Radicals, components, and stroke order—aka “how to stop staring at a character like it insulted you.”
Test Prep (TOCFL)
If you want structure and measurable progress, TOCFL resources are a cheat code (the legal kind).
What You Need Vs What You Don’t
You Probably Need
- One solid input method (so you can actually message, search, and take notes)
- One dictionary app you trust (with example sentences, audio, and handwriting lookup)
- One main learning app (habit beats hype)
- A character helper (radicals + stroke order saves your brain)
- A simple structure (TOCFL lists or a textbook series)
You Don’t Need (Yet)
- Fifteen apps that all “gamify” the same 200 words
- A perfect accent before you can order coffee
- Handwriting pages and pages of characters (unless you enjoy it)
- Buying every book because it looks “official”
- Over-optimizing tools instead of using them
Yak Note: The best tool is the one you’ll use tomorrow. The second best tool is the one you’ll use today.
Input Methods
Typing is the unlock. Once you can type, you can chat, search, label your flashcards, write notes, and actually live in the language instead of just “studying.”
Pick Your Device
iPhone
Get Traditional Chinese on your keyboard and choose the input you’ll actually remember.
Android
Set it up once, then stop fighting your phone like it’s a boss battle.
Windows
Perfect for writing longer notes, emails, and study docs.
Zhuyin Vs Pinyin Typing
Both work. Choose based on your reality:
- Choose Zhuyin (Bopomofo) if you’re in Taiwan a lot, learning from Taiwanese materials, or just want the “local default.”
- Choose Pinyin if you already know pinyin well and want the fastest ramp-up.
Zhuyin Help
Learn the basics of Bopomofo and why it’s everywhere in Taiwan.
Pinyin Help
Get your pinyin foundations clean and practical (so typing feels easy).
Dictionaries
A good dictionary app is your daily survival tool. It should give you: audio, example sentences, word segmentation, and a way to search characters you can’t type yet (handwriting or camera).
Start here:
Smart habit: whenever you look up a word, also steal one example sentence and reuse it in your own notes. That’s how “dictionary time” becomes “speaking time.”
Learning Apps
Apps are great… if you use them consistently. Pick one main app and one “supporting tool” (like a dictionary). That’s it. You’re not collecting Pokémon.
Adults And Self-Study
Choose an app that matches your goal: speaking, reading, or structured lessons.
Kids And Families
Kid apps should be simple, visual, and low-friction (because attention spans are a myth).
If you want a simple routine: 10 minutes app practice + 2 minutes dictionary lookups + 1 message typed in Traditional Chinese. Small. Daily. Deadly effective.
Character Tools
Characters feel intimidating until you treat them like LEGO: parts, patterns, and repetition. Tools help you see the structure, not just the ink blob.
Radicals And Stroke Order
Learn to break characters into components and find them faster in dictionaries.
Learning Characters
A beginner-friendly approach to building your character base without melting your brain.
Pro move: don’t “study characters.” Study words (two-character chunks), then use stroke order and radicals only when you’re stuck. Characters are a means to meaning, not a museum exhibit.
Test Resources
Even if you’re not taking a test, TOCFL resources are a nice “what should I learn next?” roadmap. Structured lists = fewer random detours.
TOCFL Essentials
TOCFL Vocabulary Lists
Textbook Track
If you like a guided path, the Contemporary Chinese series is a solid “lesson-by-lesson” backbone.
Mini Toolkit Vocabulary (So You Can Talk About Tools)
Here are a few high-utility words you’ll actually see in menus, settings, and study chats. Each one includes pinyin, meaning, and a real sentence.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning | Example (ZH) | Example (Pinyin) | Translation (EN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 輸入法 | shūrùfǎ | input method | 我想換一個中文輸入法。 | Wǒ xiǎng huàn yí gè Zhōngwén shūrùfǎ. | I want to switch to a Chinese input method. |
| 鍵盤 | jiànpán | keyboard | 我的鍵盤可以打繁體字。 | Wǒ de jiànpán kěyǐ dǎ fántǐzì. | My keyboard can type Traditional characters. |
| 字典 | zìdiǎn | dictionary | 這個字典有很多例句。 | Zhège zìdiǎn yǒu hěn duō lìjù. | This dictionary has lots of example sentences. |
| 例句 | lìjù | example sentence | 請給我一個例句。 | Qǐng gěi wǒ yí gè lìjù. | Please give me an example sentence. |
| 發音 | fāyīn | pronunciation | 我想聽這個字的發音。 | Wǒ xiǎng tīng zhège zì de fāyīn. | I want to hear this character’s pronunciation. |
| 練習 | liànxí | practice | 我每天練習十分鐘。 | Wǒ měitiān liànxí shí fēnzhōng. | I practice for ten minutes every day. |
| 部首 | bùshǒu | radical | 我用部首來找這個字。 | Wǒ yòng bùshǒu lái zhǎo zhège zì. | I use the radical to look up this character. |
| 筆順 | bǐshùn | stroke order | 這個字的筆順不難。 | Zhège zì de bǐshùn bù nán. | This character’s stroke order isn’t hard. |
| 設定 | shèdìng | settings | 我在設定裡打開中文鍵盤。 | Wǒ zài shèdìng lǐ dǎkāi Zhōngwén jiànpán. | I enable the Chinese keyboard in settings. |
| 考試 | kǎoshì | exam/test | 我在準備 TOCFL 考試。 | Wǒ zài zhǔnbèi TOCFL kǎoshì. | I’m preparing for the TOCFL exam. |
Common Questions
Should I Learn Zhuyin Or Pinyin First?
If you’re learning in Taiwan or using Taiwanese materials often, Zhuyin is worth it. If your brain already runs on pinyin, start with pinyin typing and add Zhuyin later. Either way, get one input method working and use it daily.
Do I Need To Write Characters By Hand?
Not to start. Typing + reading is enough for many beginners. Handwriting can help memory, but it’s optional unless your goal or class requires it.
How Do I Choose A Good Dictionary App?
Pick one with audio, example sentences, and an easy way to look up unknown characters (handwriting works great). Then stick with it—switching constantly is the real trap.
Final Yak Box
If your setup is messy, your learning will feel messy. Start with typing + dictionary. Then add one learning app. Then add radicals/stroke order when characters start getting spicy. That’s the whole “secret.”