Chinese is a difficult language to master, trust me I’ve tried. It’s constantly learning a new character, its meaning, its use in a sentence, and the mother lode: learning its tone. Technology has been gracious in lending a helping hand with the creation of apps that every expat needs to survive.
Pleco
This is like manna from the tech gods! Pleco is one of the best, if not the best, Chinese-English real-time translator app. The app’s greatest feature is you can take pictures of Chinese characters then hey presto! You get an immediate translation. Reading Chinese texts just got easier.
Platform: iOS and Android
WayGo
If you dread ordering in a Chinese restaurant then this is the app to install. (Fast! before you order stewed frog). WayGo translates Chinese menus into English, just aim your smartphone’s camera at characters. It works even you’re not connected to the Internet. The only drawback is that the app doesn’t know every dish.
Platform: iOS and Android
WeChat Wallet
How did we survive in China before this app? You can pay utilities, buy local flights and train tickets, donate to charities, order a taxi, transfer money from one bank account to another, and more. Everything is possible on the default Chinese social media behemoth, WeChat.
Platform: iOS and Android
Uber, Didi Dache, Kuaidi Dache
Flagging down a taxi is so 2014, there are three viable options for getting a taxi to come to your doorstep and payment is virtual as well. The only drawback with Didi Dache and Kuaidi Dache is both have Chinese interfaces. The simplest solution is add locations that you frequent to your bookmarks so you don’t have to keep adding the location every time. During bad weather this saves you waiting in the cold or rain for a taxi that will often pass you by on the way to pick up someone with an app.
Platform: iOS and Android
Photo: Cellphones.ca
