Chinese Text Annotator: Pinyin and English for Any Chinese Text | Degree in China
Free tool · works in your browser

Chinese Text Annotator

Paste any Chinese text — a university notice, dorm rules, a rental contract, a class handout — and get instant pinyin above each character plus an English meaning for every word. No sign-up, and your text never leaves your browser.

Your annotated result will appear here.

The Chinese Text Annotator is a free browser tool that helps international students read real Chinese documents. Paste any Chinese text and it shows pinyin (the romanised pronunciation) above each character and an English meaning for every word. It runs entirely in your browser, so your text stays private and the dictionary works even without an internet connection after the first load.

What this tool does

Chinese university life comes with a steady stream of Chinese-language paperwork: admission notices, dormitory rules, scholarship letters, class schedules, rental contracts, and everyday WeChat messages from your school. This tool turns that text into something you can actually read:

  • Pinyin on top of every character : learn how each word is pronounced using standard Hànyǔ Pīnyīn.
  • English meaning for every word : a built-in dictionary of more than 109,000 Chinese words and phrases (based on the open-source CC-CEDICT project).
  • Optional full translation : turn on the translation switch to get a plain English sentence for the whole text.

How to use the Chinese annotator

  1. Paste your Chinese text into the box above (a notice, a contract clause, a message, or a textbook paragraph).
  2. Choose what to show: pinyin, word meanings, or a full English translation.
  3. Click Annotate and read the result with pinyin and meanings laid out clearly.
  4. Copy the result to your notes, or download it as an HTML file to keep.

Who it is for

This tool is built for international students, exchange students, and researchers studying at Chinese universities, as well as teachers and family members who help them. If you are preparing to study in China, pair it with our glossary of 55 study-in-China terms and the student visa finder.

Frequently asked questions

What is pinyin and why do I need it?
Pinyin is the standard romanisation of Mandarin Chinese. It shows you how to pronounce each character using the Latin alphabet. For a student reading a Chinese notice for the first time, pinyin is the fastest way to say the words out loud and look them up later.
Does this tool translate a full sentence into English?
By default it gives the meaning of each word, which is usually more useful for learning. Turn on the “Full translation” switch and it will also fetch a plain English version of the whole text through a free translation service.
Is my text sent to a server?
The pinyin and dictionary lookup happen entirely in your browser. Your text is never uploaded. Only if you enable the optional full translation does a sentence get sent to a public translation API.
Does the annotator work offline?
Yes, after the first visit. The dictionary is downloaded once and cached by your browser, so you can annotate text without an internet connection afterwards.
Which Chinese words does the dictionary cover?
More than 109,000 words and short phrases, drawn from the open-source CC-CEDICT dictionary. It covers everyday, academic, and administrative Chinese typical of university life.
How accurate is the pinyin?
Pinyin is generated by the open-source pinyin-pro library using standard Hànyǔ Pīnyīn rules, the same system taught in Chinese language courses.
Can I download or copy the annotated result?
Yes. Use the Copy button to put the result on your clipboard, or Download to save it as an HTML file you can open or print later.
Is the Chinese Text Annotator free?
Yes. It is completely free to use, with no account and no limit on how much text you annotate.

Related tools and guides

The Chinese Text Annotator is provided for study and reference. Pinyin and word meanings are generated automatically; for official documents such as contracts or visa papers, confirm important details with your university international office. Dictionary data is derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA).