Matt Schiavenza

Recently I wrote a comparison of the Chinese learning software Wenlin with the online dictionary Nciku, concluding that each compensated for the other’s weaknesses, making both useful. Today my aim is more ambitious: what is the essential combination of web/software/electronic devices for the English speaking Chinese student?

1. Wenlin

As I wrote, Wenlin is best suited for deepening one’s understanding of Chinese characters and how they function in the language. I use Wenlin if I encounter a character whose origins I’m unsure of, or am curious in which other words a certain character appears. Wenlin’s other main use is for translating paragraphs written in academic or vernacular Chinese, as its ability to render Chinese sentences in accurate English is unsurpassed.

2. Nciku

Nciku’s English to Chinese dictionary is far larger than Wenlin’s, often providing accurate translations of relatively obscure English terms. Nciku also includes useful example sentences in each of its entries (something Wenlin does only occasionally) which have the unintended effect of improving your grasp of Chinese grammar. Finally, Nciku’s writing function recognizes even badly-written characters, so whenever I scribble one with my mouse I always seem to find what I’m looking for.

3. Kingsoft

Unlike Wenlin or Nciku, Kingsoft does not require one to copy and paste Chinese or English terms into a separate interface. Quite simply, Kingsoft will translate any English word it finds on your computer into Chinese, and any Chinese character it finds into English. Note that I said character, not word. One of Kingsoft’s weaknesses is that it often fails to pick-up multi-character words, creating a good deal of confusion. Its lack of pinyin on English to Chinese can also be a hindrance if you don’t recognize the characters it gives you. Kingsoft is ideal though for IM conversations which value speed over accuracy.

4. Pleco

There are many hand-held dictionary devices, but in my experience Pleco is the best. Available mainly for Palm products, Pleco combines a huge dictionary with an easy-to-use interface, making word searches simple and fast. As a hand-held device, I have used Pleco mostly in class and in situations when I’m outside and am curious about a certain character I see on a sign or shopfront. A must-have for a Chinese student.

Here’s a situational guide for each device:

1. You’re reading a Chinese newspaper article on-line, but are having trouble with some of the more difficult characters: Wenlin
2. You’re understand a Chinese word but are not sure how to use it in a sentence: Nciku
3. You’re looking for a ready-made source of Chinese slang: Nciku
4. You’re chatting on QQ with your Chinese friend and don’t understand a few of the things she’s written: Kingsoft
5. The new software you’ve installed doesn’t come in English and you’re reluctant to press the wrong button: Kingsoft
6. You’re on the bus and are curious about an advertisement that keeps flashing on the screen: Pleco
7. You’ve seen a certain character before but are not sure what it is, or where else it appears: Wenlin
8. You’re reading a Chinese novel at home and can’t figure out a tricky phrase: Nciku.
9. You’ve gotten drunk and lost your Palm PDA, your internet connection expired because you’re too lazy to pay the bill, and you are too cheap to buy Kingsoft or Wenlin and too wimpy to download them off of a torrent: a good old-fashioned paper dictionary.