Traditional Chinese Learning Apps (Traditional Characters, Pinyin, Or Zhuyin)

Topic In Chinese: 台灣友善的繁體中文學習 App（Táiwān yǒushàn de fántǐ zhōngwén xuéxí App）

If you’re learning Mandarin for Taiwan, you want three things: 繁體字 (Traditional characters), either 拼音 (pinyin) or 注音 (Zhuyin/Bopomofo), and content that doesn’t feel like it’s only built for one exam in one place.

Below are Taiwan-friendly app picks (with quick “why this one” notes), plus a big set of Traditional Chinese vocab and real sentences you’ll actually use while studying and living in Taiwan.

Yak Reality Check 🦬
Some apps let you switch to Traditional characters, but their audio/vocab still leans “Mainland standard.” That’s normal. Use those apps for structure, and pair them with Taiwan-first tools (MOE/Moedict, Zhuyin input, Taiwan-course audio) so you don’t end up ordering “takeout” like you’re in a different country.

How To Choose Taiwan-Friendly Apps

Traditional toggle: Can the app display 繁體字 (and not just “sometimes”)?
Pinyin or Zhuyin support: Can you show readings as 拼音 or 注音?
Dictionary quality: One-tap lookup, example sentences, and good Taiwan usage labels help a lot.
Taiwan audio option: If possible, choose content marked “Taiwan” (or at least supplement with Taiwan audio).
Offline mode: Taiwan has great coverage… until you’re in a basement MRT station.

Quick Setup Checklist

In each app: go to Settings → switch to Traditional (繁體字).
Turn on Pinyin (拼音) or Zhuyin (注音) display—then slowly hide it as you improve.
Install a Zhuyin keyboard if you’re in Taiwan (it makes local life easier).
Add a Taiwan dictionary app for native usage and Zhuyin-first lookup.

Taiwan-Friendly App Picks

These picks lean Taiwan-friendly in at least one important way: Traditional characters, Zhuyin support, Taiwan dictionary data, or Taiwan-specific audio/course content.

Pleco

Best For: dictionary lookup + flashcards + “I need to understand this right now.”
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Supports Traditional and Zhuyin display, so you can study the way Taiwan does it. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Tap-to-lookup while reading
Flashcards + handwriting tools
Set pronunciation display to 注音 (Zhuyin)

萌典 Moedict

Best For: Taiwan-first dictionary data + offline lookup.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Built around Taiwan’s MOE dictionary sources and available as offline apps. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Great for Taiwan usage and definitions
Offline entries
Also includes Taiwan languages (bonus)

教育部辭典 App (Me國語新辭典)

Best For: “Official-style” Traditional dictionary lookup with Zhuyin search.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Supports 注音查詢 (Zhuyin lookup) and offline use. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Search by 注音、部首、筆劃
Offline after download
Great for “how Taiwan labels this word”

DangDai Chinese（當代中文課程）

Best For: Taiwan textbook-style lessons (NTNU/MTC).
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Built for 《當代中文課程》 with Traditional/Simplified switching and pinyin help. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

課文 + 生詞 + 語法 + 練習
筆順動畫
Structured Taiwan curriculum

HelloChinese

Best For: beginner-friendly lessons + speaking practice.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Supports both Simplified and Traditional characters (so you can pick Traditional from day one). :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Short lessons and clear progression
Handwriting + speech features
Good “daily habit” app

Skritter

Best For: learning to write characters (with stroke order) using SRS.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Strong Traditional character support and writing practice. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Stroke order that actually sticks
Great if handwriting matters to you
Pairs nicely with reading apps

Du Chinese

Best For: graded reading with tap-to-lookup + audio.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: You can choose Traditional characters and control reading aids (like showing/hiding readings). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Read at your level (beginner → advanced)
Instant word meanings while reading
Great “commute study” app

The Chairman’s Bao (TCB)

Best For: graded news reading with study tools.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: App personalization includes switching between Simplified/Traditional and turning pinyin on/off. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Read real-world topics at your level
Use pinyin as training wheels (then remove them)
Daily content keeps motivation up

Glossika (Mandarin Chinese – Taiwan)

Best For: speaking/listening drills with lots of sentences.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Offers a “Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan)” course option. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

High-volume sentence practice
Great for rhythm and fluency
Pairs well with reading apps

Google Input Tools (Zhuyin IME)

Best For: typing Zhuyin on computers (web/IME tools).
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Official Zhuyin IME guide for Traditional Chinese input. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Learn to type the way Taiwan locals type
Helps you “own” characters faster
Useful beyond studying (messaging, forms, work)

Chaozhuyin Keyboard (Android)

Best For: Zhuyin typing on Android.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: A dedicated Bopomofo (Zhuyin) input method. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Fast Zhuyin entry
Good if you want “Taiwan keyboard mode”
Pairs with Moedict/MOE lookups

Speechling (Traditional Quizzes)

Best For: quick drills with lots of sentence practice.
Why Taiwan-Friendly: Has Chinese (Traditional) quiz content you can use for fast review. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Short, repeatable practice
Good “5 minutes here, 5 minutes there” tool
Useful for listening/sentence rhythm

One Killer Combo

Use This Stack: Pleco + Moedict/MOE + one reading app (Du Chinese or TCB) + one speaking app (Glossika). That covers lookup, Taiwan usage, reading, and speaking—without app-hoarding as a lifestyle.

Lookup: Pleco
Taiwan dictionary: Moedict/MOE
Reading: Du Chinese or TCB
Speaking: Glossika

Visual Cheat Cards: The Stuff You’ll See In Apps

繁體字

Pinyin: fántǐzì
Meaning: Traditional characters

例句：我想用繁體字學中文。
Wǒ xiǎng yòng fántǐzì xué zhōngwén.
I want to learn Chinese using Traditional characters.

注音

Pinyin: zhùyīn
Meaning: Zhuyin (Bopomofo)

例句：在台灣，我用注音打字。
Zài Táiwān, wǒ yòng zhùyīn dǎzì.
In Taiwan, I type using Zhuyin.

拼音

Pinyin: pīnyīn
Meaning: pinyin (romanization)

例句：我先看拼音，然後再看漢字。
Wǒ xiān kàn pīnyīn, ránhòu zài kàn hànzì.
I look at pinyin first, then the characters.

設定

Pinyin: shèdìng
Meaning: settings

例句：我去設定把字體換成繁體字。
Wǒ qù shèdìng bǎ zìtǐ huàn chéng fántǐzì.
I go to settings and switch the script to Traditional.

切換

Pinyin: qiēhuàn
Meaning: switch / toggle

例句：我可以切換繁體字和簡體字。
Wǒ kěyǐ qiēhuàn fántǐzì hé jiǎntǐzì.
I can switch between Traditional and Simplified.

離線

Pinyin: líxiàn
Meaning: offline

例句：我下載課程，離線也能學。
Wǒ xiàzài kèchéng, líxiàn yě néng xué.
I download lessons so I can study offline too.

Useful Phrases For Using Apps (And Not Getting Lost)

Copy-paste these into your brain: they show up in app menus, and they’re also the exact sentences you’ll need in Taiwan.

這個 App 支援繁體字。
Zhège App zhīyuán fántǐzì.
This app supports Traditional characters.
我想看注音，不想看拼音。
Wǒ xiǎng kàn zhùyīn, bù xiǎng kàn pīnyīn.
I want to see Zhuyin, not pinyin.
可以把拼音關掉嗎？
Kěyǐ bǎ pīnyīn guān diào ma?
Can I turn off pinyin?
我聽得懂，但是我不會打字。
Wǒ tīng de dǒng, dànshì wǒ bú huì dǎzì.
I can understand, but I can’t type.
這個字怎麼念？
Zhège zì zěnme niàn?
How do you pronounce this character?
你可以再說一次嗎？
Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?
Can you say it one more time?
我在捷運上複習生字。
Wǒ zài jiéyùn shàng fùxí shēngzì.
I review new words on the MRT.
我先用字典查一下。
Wǒ xiān yòng zìdiǎn chá yíxià.
I’ll look it up in a dictionary first.
我想練口說和聽力。
Wǒ xiǎng liàn kǒushuō hé tīnglì.
I want to practice speaking and listening.
我每天學十分鐘就好。
Wǒ měitiān xué shí fēnzhōng jiù hǎo.
Ten minutes a day is enough for me.

Tables Of Words (Traditional + Pinyin + Real Examples)

App & Settings Vocabulary

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
繁體字	fántǐzì	Traditional characters	這個 App 有繁體字模式。	Zhège App yǒu fántǐzì móshì.	This app has a Traditional mode.
簡體字	jiǎntǐzì	Simplified characters	我不想學簡體字。	Wǒ bù xiǎng xué jiǎntǐzì.	I don’t want to study Simplified characters.
正體字	zhèngtǐzì	Traditional (formal term)	在台灣，很多人也說「正體字」。	Zài Táiwān, hěn duō rén yě shuō “zhèngtǐzì”.	In Taiwan, many people also say “zhèngtǐzì.”
拼音	pīnyīn	pinyin	我先開拼音輔助。	Wǒ xiān kāi pīnyīn fǔzhù.	I turn on pinyin help first.
注音符號	zhùyīn fúhào	Zhuyin symbols	這本書旁邊有注音符號。	Zhè běn shū pángbiān yǒu zhùyīn fúhào.	This book has Zhuyin symbols on the side.
注音	zhùyīn	Zhuyin (Bopomofo)	我用注音查字。	Wǒ yòng zhùyīn chá zì.	I look up characters using Zhuyin.
聲調	shēngdiào	tones	聲調不對，意思就變了。	Shēngdiào bú duì, yìsi jiù biàn le.	If the tone is wrong, the meaning changes.
聲母	shēngmǔ	initial (consonant)	我先練聲母，再練韻母。	Wǒ xiān liàn shēngmǔ, zài liàn yùnmǔ.	I practice initials first, then finals.
韻母	yùnmǔ	final (vowel part)	這個韻母我常念錯。	Zhège yùnmǔ wǒ cháng niàn cuò.	I often pronounce this final wrong.
字典	zìdiǎn	dictionary	我用字典查意思。	Wǒ yòng zìdiǎn chá yìsi.	I use a dictionary to check the meaning.
查字	chá zì	look up a character	這個字我不會，我要查字。	Zhège zì wǒ bú huì, wǒ yào chá zì.	I don’t know this character; I need to look it up.
例句	lìjù	example sentence	我想看更多例句。	Wǒ xiǎng kàn gèng duō lìjù.	I want to see more example sentences.
發音	fāyīn	pronunciation	這個字的發音是什麼？	Zhège zì de fāyīn shì shénme?	What’s the pronunciation of this character?
口音	kǒuyīn	accent	我想聽台灣口音。	Wǒ xiǎng tīng Táiwān kǒuyīn.	I want to hear a Taiwan accent.
切換	qiēhuàn	switch / toggle	我在繁體字和簡體字之間切換。	Wǒ zài fántǐzì hé jiǎntǐzì zhījiān qiēhuàn.	I switch between Traditional and Simplified.
設定	shèdìng	settings	去設定把注音打開。	Qù shèdìng bǎ zhùyīn dǎkāi.	Go to settings and turn on Zhuyin.
離線	líxiàn	offline	離線也能看文章。	Líxiàn yě néng kàn wénzhāng.	You can read articles offline too.
下載	xiàzài	download	我先下載課程再出門。	Wǒ xiān xiàzài kèchéng zài chūmén.	I download lessons before I go out.

Study Actions Vocabulary

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
學習	xuéxí	to study/learn	我每天學習十五分鐘。	Wǒ měitiān xuéxí shíwǔ fēnzhōng.	I study 15 minutes every day.
複習	fùxí	to review	我睡前會複習。	Wǒ shuì qián huì fùxí.	I review before bed.
練習	liànxí	to practice	我想練習聽力。	Wǒ xiǎng liànxí tīnglì.	I want to practice listening.
記住	jìzhù	to remember	我記住了這個字。	Wǒ jìzhù le zhège zì.	I remembered this character.
背單字	bèi dānzì	memorize vocabulary	我不想只背單字，我也要用。	Wǒ bù xiǎng zhǐ bèi dānzì, wǒ yě yào yòng.	I don’t want to only memorize words; I want to use them too.
生字	shēngzì	new word/character	今天的生字有點多。	Jīntiān de shēngzì yǒudiǎn duō.	There are a lot of new words today.
閃卡	shǎnkǎ	flashcards	我用閃卡複習生字。	Wǒ yòng shǎnkǎ fùxí shēngzì.	I use flashcards to review new words.
閱讀	yuèdú	reading	我每天閱讀一篇短文。	Wǒ měitiān yuèdú yì piān duǎnwén.	I read one short text every day.
聽力	tīnglì	listening skill	我的聽力比口說好。	Wǒ de tīnglì bǐ kǒushuō hǎo.	My listening is better than my speaking.
口說	kǒushuō	speaking	我想加強口說。	Wǒ xiǎng jiāqiáng kǒushuō.	I want to improve my speaking.
跟讀	gēndú	shadow reading	我會跟讀三遍。	Wǒ huì gēndú sān biàn.	I’ll shadow-read three times.
錄音	lùyīn	record audio	我錄音聽自己哪裡怪。	Wǒ lùyīn tīng zìjǐ nǎlǐ guài.	I record myself to hear what sounds off.
造句	zàojù	make a sentence	我用新單字造句。	Wǒ yòng xīn dānzì zàojù.	I make sentences with new words.
筆記	bǐjì	notes	我把重點寫在筆記裡。	Wǒ bǎ zhòngdiǎn xiě zài bǐjì lǐ.	I write key points in my notes.
目標	mùbiāo	goal	我的目標是一個月讀完一本書。	Wǒ de mùbiāo shì yí ge yuè dú wán yì běn shū.	My goal is to finish one book in a month.
每天	měitiān	every day	每天學一點點就很有效。	Měitiān xué yìdiǎndiǎn jiù hěn yǒuxiào.	A little every day is very effective.
進度	jìndù	progress	我想看一下我的進度。	Wǒ xiǎng kàn yíxià wǒ de jìndù.	I want to check my progress.
自學	zìxué	self-study	我在家自學中文。	Wǒ zài jiā zìxué zhōngwén.	I self-study Chinese at home.

Taiwan Life Phrases (Super Useful)

Hanzi	Pinyin	Meaning	Example (ZH)	Example (Pinyin)	Translation (EN)
台灣	Táiwān	Taiwan	我住在台灣學中文。	Wǒ zhù zài Táiwān xué zhōngwén.	I live in Taiwan and study Chinese.
國語	guóyǔ	Mandarin (Taiwan term)	在學校大家說國語。	Zài xuéxiào dàjiā shuō guóyǔ.	At school, everyone speaks Mandarin.
台灣腔	Táiwān qiāng	Taiwan accent	我喜歡聽台灣腔的中文。	Wǒ xǐhuān tīng Táiwān qiāng de zhōngwén.	I like hearing Chinese with a Taiwan accent.
捷運	jiéyùn	MRT/metro	我坐捷運去上課。	Wǒ zuò jiéyùn qù shàngkè.	I take the MRT to class.
便利商店	biànlì shāngdiàn	convenience store	我去便利商店買水。	Wǒ qù biànlì shāngdiàn mǎi shuǐ.	I go to the convenience store to buy water.
外帶	wàidài	to go / takeout	我要外帶，謝謝。	Wǒ yào wàidài, xièxiè.	To go, please.
內用	nèiyòng	dine in	我們內用。	Wǒmen nèiyòng.	We’re dining in.
發票	fāpiào	receipt (Taiwan)	可以給我發票嗎？	Kěyǐ gěi wǒ fāpiào ma?	Can you give me a receipt?
悠遊卡	yōuyóukǎ	EasyCard	我用悠遊卡搭捷運。	Wǒ yòng yōuyóukǎ dā jiéyùn.	I use an EasyCard to take the MRT.
排隊	páiduì	line up	這裡要排隊。	Zhèlǐ yào páiduì.	You need to line up here.
多少錢	duōshǎo qián	how much	這個多少錢？	Zhège duōshǎo qián?	How much is this?
可以刷卡嗎	kěyǐ shuākǎ ma	can I pay by card	可以刷卡嗎？	Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?	Can I pay by card?
可以用悠遊卡嗎	kěyǐ yòng yōuyóukǎ ma	can I use EasyCard	可以用悠遊卡嗎？	Kěyǐ yòng yōuyóukǎ ma?	Can I use an EasyCard?
請問廁所在哪裡	qǐngwèn cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ	where is the bathroom	請問廁所在哪裡？	Qǐngwèn cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?	Excuse me, where’s the bathroom?
麻煩你	máfan nǐ	sorry to bother you / could you	麻煩你幫我一下。	Máfan nǐ bāng wǒ yíxià.	Could you help me for a moment?
不好意思	bù hǎoyìsi	excuse me / sorry	不好意思，我問一下。	Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ wèn yíxià.	Excuse me, can I ask something?
沒關係	méi guānxi	it’s okay	沒關係，你慢慢說。	Méi guānxi, nǐ mànman shuō.	It’s okay—say it slowly.
我聽不懂	wǒ tīng bù dǒng	I don’t understand (what I hear)	不好意思，我聽不懂。	Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒ tīng bù dǒng.	Sorry, I don’t understand.
你可以再說一次嗎	nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma	can you say it again	你可以再說一次嗎？	Nǐ kěyǐ zài shuō yí cì ma?	Can you say that again?
這個字怎麼念	zhège zì zěnme niàn	how to pronounce this character	這個字怎麼念？	Zhège zì zěnme niàn?	How do you pronounce this character?

Final Yak Box: Your No-Drama Study Plan

Week 1: Pick one course app (HelloChinese or DangDai) + set it to 繁體字.
Week 2: Add one reading app (Du Chinese or TCB). Start with pinyin on, then hide it for easy sentences.
Week 3: Install a Taiwan dictionary (Moedict or MOE app) and make “查字” your new personality.
Week 4: Add speaking drills (Glossika) and do short daily reps. Consistency beats “I studied 4 hours once.”

If you want the most Taiwan-friendly foundation fast, the DangDai + Moedict/MOE + Zhuyin keyboard combo is ridiculously practical. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Pick fewer apps, use them more, and let Traditional characters become “normal” through daily reading and lookup. Your future Taiwan-self will thank you (probably while holding bubble tea).