Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

MDBG Chinese Dictionary

mdbg.net

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidAPI
Visit mdbg.net
Spec score 9.1 #2 of 39 in Online Dictionaries

What it is

MDBG Chinese Dictionary combines Chinese-English and English-Chinese lookup with tools for reading and practicing Chinese. The online dictionary searches by Chinese, Mandarin pinyin, or English definitions, including wildcard queries. Character entries can show radical and stroke counts, several Chinese pronunciation and writing systems, and code details. Text lookup adds pinyin and English definitions to passages inline or in popups. Free online study tools include flashcards, quizzes, Chinese text input, written Chinese tools, vocabulary web feeds, and a character quiz. MDBG also offers Chinese Reader editions and a macOS dictionary. The macOS dictionary works offline; Chinese Reader for Windows can scan selected text, look up and pronounce Chinese, translate text, and work offline. Its automatic translation uses Google and Microsoft services. The macOS trial has no time limit but covers HSK levels 1–4, approximately 3,000 entries; the full version has over 120,000 entries. The word dictionary is based on CC-CEDICT, whose downloadable data is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0. Plans include a 14-day Chinese Reader Preview trial and several free editions.

Spec sheet

What it does
MDBG provides a free web Chinese-English and English-Chinese dictionary with study tools and separate Windows, macOS and mobile offerings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Privacy
The website privacy page says it uses traffic log cookies for statistical analysis and Google Analytics and AdSense cookies.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Support
Chinese Reader support directs users to guides and documentation and says feedback is the fastest way to contact support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Browser support
Chinese Reader support documentation describes enabling browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Character data
Character entries can show radicals, stroke counts, Mandarin Pinyin, Yale and Jyutping Cantonese, Unihan definitions, Cangjie and four-corner codes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Character details
Character entries can show radical and stroke counts, Mandarin pinyin, Yale and Jyutping Cantonese, Cangjie, and four-corner codes.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Chinese input
The web typing interface supports Mandarin Pinyin, Yale, Jyutping, Cangjie and Fast Cangjie input and can send results to dictionary or translation searches.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Chrome privacy
The Chrome extension states that its dictionary is bundled locally, makes no API or network requests, and collects no analytics or tracking data.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Company identity
MDBG's legal page identifies the software publisher as MDBG, Inc.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists MDBG as a privately held online-learning provider with one employee.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cn.linkedin.com
Customers
MDBG says it has customers in 179 countries and cites users including the U.S. State Department and the United Nations Office at Geneva.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Customisation
Paid Windows editions support custom definitions, usage notes, personal dictionaries, dictionary ordering, hotkeys, history and ColorTones.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Desktop licence limits
The EULA licenses one copy to one device and one user, with home-use exceptions capped at five devices or three residents.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Developer resources
MDBG links to public Python and PHP parsers for CC-CEDICT data, but the downloadable file itself is only a database and requires a compatible application.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Dictionary and study tools
The free online dictionary includes Chinese-English and English-Chinese lookup, flashcards, quizzes, text annotation, Chinese text input, and written Chinese tools.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Dictionary data
The word dictionary is based on CC-CEDICT, whose downloadable data is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Dictionary size
The downloadable CC-CEDICT release dated 2026-10-14 contains 125,271 entries.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Documentation
MDBG publishes feature, installation and editions PDF guides plus an interactive settings guide for Chinese Reader 8.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Flashcards
Character flashcards randomize characters, show related words and support HSK levels 1 through 7–9 plus simplified or traditional output.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Licence
CC-CEDICT data is licensed Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0, allowing commercial use with attribution and share-alike changes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Limit: browser behavior
A Forumosa user reported that Chrome did not automatically show definitions on hover and required text highlighting.Read 14 Oct 2026 · tw.forumosa.com
Limit: performance
A ChinesePod reviewer reported slow startup, freezing, unreliable operation and failures when translating longer Windows text.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chinesepod.com
Limit: pricing
ChinesePod reviewers described the Windows product as expensive, citing historical prices of $59 and $79 and saying some capabilities required a higher edition.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chinesepod.com
Limits
The macOS trial is limited to HSK levels 1–4, approximately 3,000 entries, while the full version has over 120,000 entries.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
macOS requirements
The macOS product page lists support from macOS 10.13 High Sierra through macOS 26 Tahoe.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Offline operation
The Windows and macOS dictionaries are designed to work without an internet connection.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Offline use
The macOS dictionary works offline and supports lookup by Chinese characters, Mandarin pinyin, or English definitions.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Pinyin input
A separate Pinyin tool converts numbered tones such as ni3hao3 into tone-marked text and offers English and double-width modes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Practice
The practice page offers vocabulary web feeds, a Chinese character quiz, and character flashcards.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Praise: broad usefulness
Forumosa users praised using MDBG in any application, daily dictionary updates and the ability to submit corrections or new entries for review.Read 14 Oct 2026 · tw.forumosa.com
Praise: cross-application lookup
A ChinesePod reviewer praised selecting text in emails and chat applications, pinning the translation panel and seeing multiple meanings at once.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chinesepod.com
Radical search
A radical-and-stroke lookup lets users select a radical and stroke count to retrieve matching characters.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Rating on Chrome Web Store
0 out of 5 from 0 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on Software Informer
3.9 out of 5 from 88 votesRead 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg-chinese-reader.software.informer.com
Search
The word dictionary supports searches by Chinese, Mandarin pinyin, or English definitions, including wildcard queries.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Security disclosure
The desktop EULA says activation and validation can transmit account, IP address, operating-system, product-key and hardware information to MDBG.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Study integrations
Chinese Reader can export sound-enabled flashcards for Anki and supports flashcard use on iPhone, Android and Windows.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
System requirements
The Windows download page lists Microsoft Windows 10, 8 and 7 as supported systems.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Text annotation
Text lookup can segment a sentence into words, preserve sentence order, build a vocabulary list and add inline or popup Pinyin and English annotations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Translation integrations
Chinese Reader offers Google translation up to 89 languages and Microsoft translation up to 49 languages.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Translation tool
The site translates small English-to-Chinese or Chinese-to-English text and links translation results to sentence lookup.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Windows features
Chinese Reader for Windows can scan selected text, look up words, pronounce Chinese, translate text, and work offline.Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Windows scanning
Chinese Reader can scan selected text in emails, documents and web pages and display dictionary meanings and pronunciation in a popup.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Word lookup
The web dictionary searches Chinese characters, Mandarin Pinyin or English definitions and supports wildcards, quoted phrases, exclusions and field-specific prefixes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net

Plans and prices

Chinese Reader Free Edition Free Free edition Browser text selection · English/Chinese/Pinyin lookup · basic Mandarin voice Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Chinese Reader Free Edition Free Browser-based text selection and dictionary lookup · Basic Mandarin voice Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
Chinese Reader Preview Edition Free 14-day trial Windows 10/8/7 · Professional features during trial · no credit card required Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.loqu8.com
MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary for macOS trial Free No time limit · HSK 1–4 words · Approximately 3,000 entries Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
MDBG free online dictionary Free Online dictionary and learning tools Read 7 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
MDBG macOS trial Free No time limit HSK levels 1–4 only · approximately 3,000 entries Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
Online dictionary Free Free online access Chinese-English and English-Chinese lookup · flashcards · quizzes · text annotation · Chinese input · handwriting tools Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net
MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary for macOS $15.95, paid once One-time purchase Offline dictionary · over 120,000 entries in full version · macOS 10.13–26 Read 14 Oct 2026 · mdbg.net

Every MDBG Chinese Dictionary plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Searches Chinese, pinyin, English, and wildcard queries.
  • Text lookup adds pinyin and English definitions.
  • Online tools include flashcards and quizzes.
  • macOS dictionary and Windows Chinese Reader support offline use.

Limits

  • The macOS trial covers only HSK levels 1–4.
  • The macOS trial includes approximately 3,000 entries.
  • Website uses traffic log, Google Analytics, and AdSense cookies.

Who it suits

It suits Chinese learners who want dictionary lookup alongside text annotation and practice tools. Offline options may suit macOS users or Windows users of Chinese Reader.

MDBG Chinese Dictionary in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

MDBG Chinese Dictionary combines Chinese-English and English-Chinese lookup with reading aids and study exercises. It is best suited to Chinese learners who want reference and practice in one free web service, while retaining the option of desktop tools for offline work. Its breadth is a strength; the macOS trial’s restricted vocabulary makes it a limited preview of the full dictionary.

Key features

Search by Chinese characters, Mandarin pinyin, or English definitions, and use wildcard queries when you know only part of a word. Character entries can include radical and stroke counts, pinyin, Yale and Jyutping Cantonese, Cangjie, and four-corner codes. That makes the dictionary useful beyond basic translation, particularly for learners comparing pronunciations or identifying unfamiliar characters.

Text lookup annotates Chinese passages with pinyin and English definitions, inline or in popups. Flashcards, quizzes, character practice, and vocabulary web feeds extend the service into study, while Chinese text input and written-Chinese tools support composition. Audio pronunciation, usage examples, and translation lookup round out the reference tools.

The word dictionary draws on CC-CEDICT. Its downloadable data is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0, a relevant distinction for anyone reusing the data rather than simply using MDBG’s tools.

Pricing

MDBG uses a freemium model, with paid access from $15.95. The MDBG free online dictionary costs nothing and includes the online dictionary and learning tools, making it the clearest starting point for learners who do not need desktop offline access.

The Chinese Reader Free Edition costs nothing and provides browser-based text selection and dictionary lookup, plus basic Mandarin voice. It is a narrower choice than the online dictionary’s full study set, but useful for readers who want lookup while browsing. The Chinese Reader Preview Edition costs nothing and is a billed 14-day trial with Professional Edition capabilities during the trial; its short duration suits evaluation rather than ongoing free use.

The MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary for macOS trial costs nothing, has no time limit, and covers HSK levels 1–4, approximately 3,000 entries. The full version has over 120,000 entries, so this trial is suitable for beginner-level lookup but not for judging coverage at higher levels. Paid access starts at $15.95; the desktop options make most sense for users who value offline lookup enough to move beyond the free online tools.

Platforms

MDBG spans web, Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and browser extensions, although mobile apps are not offered. The macOS dictionary works offline and searches Chinese characters, pinyin, or English definitions. Chinese Reader for Windows can scan selected text, look up words, pronounce Chinese, translate text, and work offline; it also describes automatic translation through Google and Microsoft services. Its support documentation explains enabling extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

For users choosing software partly on privacy, the website uses traffic-log cookies for statistical analysis and Google Analytics and AdSense cookies. Chinese Reader support points users to guides and documentation and says feedback is the fastest way to contact support.

Who it's for

MDBG is a strong fit for learners who want multiple ways to search, annotate Chinese text, and practice vocabulary without paying for the online dictionary. It is also a practical candidate for people who need offline lookup on macOS or Windows. It is less compelling for someone seeking mobile apps or a broad macOS trial: the trial covers only about 3,000 beginner entries.

Pros and cons

Pros: Free online lookup is paired with annotation, flashcards, quizzes, and other study tools, so learners can move from finding a word to practicing it.

Pros: Desktop options support offline use, and the Windows reader adds selection scanning, pronunciation, and translation.

Cons: The macOS trial is capped at HSK 1–4 and approximately 3,000 entries, far below the full version’s over 120,000.

Cons: There are no mobile apps despite Android and iOS appearing among the supported platforms.

Alternatives

For broader dictionary comparisons, start with Online Dictionaries. ABBYY Lingvo is another freemium dictionary option for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Choose Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries if its free online access to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s and Oxford Advanced American dictionaries, Text Checker, and word lists better fits your English-learning needs.

Duden-Mentor is an alternative with a free Basis plan for German writing support, including 10 personal dictionary words and 500 characters without an account. WordWeb offers a free Windows version, subject to licensing terms, with definitions, synonyms, examples, basic AI suggestions, and translations.

dict.cc offers free browser-based dictionary use for private and business purposes. Larousse Dictionaries keeps most online reference resources free without registration and also offers a premium subscription. GoldenDict is the alternative to consider if you want free, GPLv3+-licensed dictionary software and are willing to download dictionary content separately.

Verdict

Choose MDBG if you want a free Chinese reference that also supports annotation and structured practice, or if offline desktop lookup is important. Its study tools and flexible search make it more than a basic translation page. Look elsewhere if mobile apps are essential, or if you need to assess the full macOS dictionary before committing: its no-time-limit trial still excludes most of the full version’s entries.

Verdict

MDBG offers a broad set of Chinese lookup and study tools, with offline options in its desktop products. Check the macOS trial’s entry limit and the feature set of the edition you plan to use.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to MDBG Chinese DictionaryAll alternatives →