# Getting started

> How Hanzi Desk works: look up words in the Dictionary, read your own texts in the Reader, review saved words in Study, and back up your data from Settings.

Source: https://crow.sg/apps/hanzi-desk/docs/

Hanzi Desk is a Mandarin and Cantonese dictionary, reader and vocabulary app for iPhone and iPad. It is free and needs no account.

- **App Store:** [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6825418694)
- **Requires:** iOS 15.4 or later
- **Price:** Free

## Find your way around

The app has four tabs: **Dictionary**, **Reader**, **Study** and **Settings**.

## Look up a word

In **Dictionary**, search by Chinese characters, pinyin, Jyutping or English. A word's page has its definition, etymology, characters, stroke order, related words and examples: switch between them with the bar at the bottom. Tap the bookmark at the top (**Save word**) to keep the word for study.

To enter a character you can't type, open **Input tools** for handwriting or text from an image. Choose Mandarin or Cantonese under **Spoken language**.

## Read your own texts

In **Reader**, tap **Add reading** to paste text, import a TXT or EPUB file, or use **Text from photo** (**Take photo** or **Choose from library**). Text recognition runs on your device, and camera access is optional. Tap a word in a reading to look it up.

## Study saved words

**Study** lists your **Saved words**; find one with **Find a saved word**. **Review due words** quizzes you on the words that are due, on a spaced-repetition schedule. You can also add an HSK word list, see your lookup history and export your words.

## Your data and backups

Words, notes, review schedules and readings stay on your device. There is no account and no automatic sync, so use **Export backup** in **Settings** before you delete the app or move to a new device. **Restore backup** replaces the study data on this device. **Clear downloaded audio** frees space and keeps your study data.

Some dictionaries, fonts and recordings download the first time you need them; the [support page](https://crow.sg/apps/hanzi-desk/support/#dictionary) says which ones work offline.

## Not documented yet

Detailed guides to the dictionary, the reader and study aren't written yet. For anything this page doesn't cover, see the [Hanzi Desk support page](https://crow.sg/apps/hanzi-desk/support/) or email [hello@crow.sg](mailto:hello@crow.sg).