# Getting started

> How Crow Chinese Reader works: find a story in the Library, learn grammar in the Grammar tab, read with audio and definitions, and manage downloads and saved words in Settings.

Source: https://crow.sg/apps/crow-chinese-reader/docs/

Crow Chinese Reader has graded Mandarin and Cantonese stories to read and listen to, with sentence audio, pinyin or Jyutping, translations and long-press definitions, for iPhone and iPad.

- **App Store:** [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822273996)
- **Requires:** iOS 15.4 or later
- **Price:** Free · optional lifetime unlock

## Find your way around

The app has two tabs:

- **Library** has the stories, by level. Choose Mandarin or Cantonese as the reading language here.
- **Grammar** has the grammar chapters.

**Settings** has **Downloads**, your **Saved words & backups**, **Restore purchases** and **Delete account**.

## Read a story

Open a story from the **Library**. In the reader you can turn pinyin (Mandarin) or Jyutping (Cantonese) and the translation on or off, long-press a word to see its definition, and listen to the narration. Tap **Save word** to keep a word for later. The reading settings change the font, tone colours, narrator, playback speed and the pause between sentences.

[Reading, audio and saved words](https://crow.sg/apps/crow-chinese-reader/support/#reading) on the support page has more.

## What is free

Free reading needs no account. The grammar chapters and a free selection of stories at each level are free; one optional lifetime purchase unlocks the paid story library. [What can I read for free?](https://crow.sg/apps/crow-chinese-reader/support/#free) lists what is included, and [restoring the lifetime library](https://crow.sg/apps/crow-chinese-reader/support/#purchase) explains restoring it on another device.

## Downloads and your data

Once a story has downloaded you can read and listen offline. Check or resume downloads in **Settings → Downloads**. Downloads, your reading position and saved words stay on the device, so share a study backup from **Settings → Saved words & backups** before you uninstall the app.

## Not documented yet

Guides to the reader, the grammar chapters and studying saved words aren't written yet. For anything this page doesn't cover, see [Help & support](https://crow.sg/apps/crow-chinese-reader/support/) or email [hello@crow.sg](mailto:hello@crow.sg).