Chinese Idioms Almanac

Chinese Idioms Almanac helps Mandarin learners understand chengyu in context. Each idiom combines an English explanation with simplified and traditional Chinese, pinyin, usage guidance and four examples. The public website includes a free idiom library for browsing meanings and examples before deciding whether the app fits your study routine.

The app is available for iPhone and iPad. Reading, search, saved idioms and flashcard review work offline. Search helps you return to an expression, while saved idioms and flashcards give you ways to revisit material you want to remember. Four Home Screen widget styles keep idioms visible between study sessions and link back into the app.

Pronunciation uses Mandarin voices available on the device, so voice availability affects what can be played. Favorites, preferences and review progress stay on the individual device; they are not a cross-device synchronization service. The app does not require an account to begin reading or reviewing.

Start with the free app collection. Optional Almanac Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks the full app collection and topic browsing. The free website library and the free app collection have different scopes: browsing the website does not mean every app entry is unlocked.

A useful starting routine is to read an idiom, compare its examples, save the expressions relevant to your own writing or conversations, and return to them in flashcard review.