Yizi review
A focused iOS app for character writing, review, and Chinese text lookup.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Yizi is an iPhone and iPad app for learners who want to read and write Chinese characters, especially those building character recognition and recall. Handwriting exercises cover more than 2,500 characters, and spaced repetition schedules character reviews. The app also includes daily goals, progress tracking, widgets, colour themes, and printable writing sheets. Its emphasis is on vocabulary and character practice rather than a broad, lesson-led course, making it a better fit for learners who want targeted study tools than those seeking a general Chinese curriculum.
Its reference and reading tools extend practice beyond isolated characters. The offline CC-CEDICT dictionary contains more than 120,000 entries, while the built-in text reader lets learners import Chinese text and look up words. Words can be saved as flashcards that retain the sentence where they were found, keeping vocabulary in context. This combination suits learners who already encounter Chinese text and want to turn reading into review; the app does not include speech recognition or offline lessons.
Yizi is free to download with in-app purchases, and the App Store displays Monthly, Yearly, and Lifetime purchase options. That gives learners a free starting point and multiple paid purchase choices, though the plan labels alone do not explain billing terms. The main constraint is platform fit: Yizi is for iPhone and iPad, with Android not yet available. Choose it for focused character handwriting, dictionary lookup, and contextual flashcards on iOS. Learners looking for speech practice, offline course lessons, or an Android app should consider a different option.
Yizi pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Handwriting practice covers more than 2,500 Chinese characters
- Offline dictionary search includes more than 120,000 entries
- Text lookup saves flashcards with the sentence where each word appeared
- Where it doesn't
- Available for iPhone and iPad, but not Android
- Focuses on vocabulary and characters rather than speech recognition
- Does not offer offline lessons
Yizi fact sheet, pricing and score →
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