Recently updated on November 21st, 2025 at 08:30 pm
We are constantly reminded of the differences between English and Chinese when we work with them on a daily basis. There are thousands of characters in Chinese, and each one varies based on the writing style. We’ve all had times when we’ve looked at a picture of a character and wondered, “What on earth is that?” A single stroke can sometimes change the meaning.
That’s why translating Chinese character images into English with software is tougher than people expect. Clients frequently ask us about it, and to be honest, we can relate to their frustration.
Using an OCR app is a simple way to start. Even though it’s not perfect (especially for people with messy handwriting or uncommon styles), it’s usually the best place to start.
What is OCR (Optical Character Recognition)?
Basically, it’s a tool that can “read” text from pictures. You can use OCR to turn a picture of text on a document or photo into real text that you can edit.
Top 3 OCR Apps for Chinese Character Image Translation
Many OCR apps are available. Some of them have full dictionaries inside. Some only work on OCR. Some even have extras like flashcards or tools that turn audio into text.
We’ve looked at a lot of tools over the years so that we can help clients quickly before our human translators step in.
Here are the three apps that we’ve found to work best for quickly and easily translating Chinese characters in pictures into English text.
Google Translate
Open the app and pick your target language at the top right, then tap the camera button at the bottom. The lower half of the screen will switch to the camera view.
Hold the camera over the Chinese text and tap the capture button. In a few moments, the app will group characters into words with a light grey background.
To translate, just highlight a word with your finger. The English translation shows up above the camera if it is recognized. If you tap the arrow next to it, you can see more information, such as the Pinyin.
WeChat Translate
WeChat isn’t just for chatting anymore.
Tap the plus sign in the top right, and you’ll see a menu of shortcuts, QR codes.
Now, the camera can translate Chinese text too. That’s a big step up from before, when it only worked on messages or posts in “Moments.”
What’s nice is you don’t need another app. The “Scan to translate” feature is already built in. If you use WeChat regularly, turning Chinese characters into English is now really simple.
Youdao Fanyi
Youdao has some really handy tools for translating Chinese characters from images. Their Youdao Fanyi app can translate between 30 languages and utilizes both your camera and voice.
To be honest, I think it’s much easier to use than a dictionary when I’m traveling or on the job.
In addition, there is the Youdao Dictionary Pen, which is very smart. It reads English or Chinese words out loud right away using OCR. It can scan up to 15 characters per second, way faster than flipping through a paper or even electronic dictionary.
If you’re serious about getting quick, accurate translations, this little device really makes a difference.
The pen can read almost anything as long as it’s on a firm, smooth surface and the text fits under the scanning tip. That includes:
- Picture books and chapter books
- Typed documents
- Product labels
- Digital screens (eg, computer, tablets, smartphones)
- Neatly handwritten notes, cards, journal entries
The only downside? Compared to the other two free OCR translation apps, it is rather pricey. To be honest, it works really well.
Amazon is selling the Youdao Dictionary Pen 2 for $119.
Professional Character Translation Services by Chinese Copywriter
It’s not always sufficient to rely solely on OCR apps for accurate and dependable Chinese character image translation. Even though they are quick and cheap, a poor or ambiguous translation could cause major problems for important projects. Our team can assist with this. Thanks to our knowledgeable Chinese editors and translators, we provide professional image to text translation that is accurate, comprehensible, and affordable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can OCR help with translation?
OCR turns printed PDFs and images into text that a computer can read. This makes translation software work much faster and more efficiently, saving you time and effort.
What are the best Chinese OCR translation software?
The following is a list of best OCR translation software to translate Chinese into English.
* Google Translate
* WeChat Translate
* Youdao Fanyi
What is the easiest way to translate a Chinese PDF into English?
The easiest way to translate a Chinese PDF into English is by using an OCR translation APP like Google Translate. However, if it’s for professional use, the best way is to hire a professional Chinese to English translator.
Chinese Copywriter Team consists of talented linguists, project managers, localization engineers, and SEO experts. Since 2012, we have been providing translation, localization, and marketing services for various international businesses targeting the Chinese markets as well as Chinese businesses expanding their global reach.