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Best translation apps for China: camera, offline and voice

✅ Updated May 2026

Translation apps make daily life manageable. Pleco is the best Chinese dictionary; for full translation, Google Translate (needs a VPN) or the built-in translators in WeChat and many Chinese apps work well, including camera mode to read menus and signs and voice mode for conversations. Download offline language packs as a backup. To communicate, show Chinese text on your screen, pass the phone back and forth with voice translation, and keep key phrases such as your address and any allergies saved in Chinese.

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