BobaTalk
Translate Taiwanese Mandarin, and actually learn it.
Character-by-character breakdown with tone colours and pinyin
Mac and iPhone app coming soon
Character breakdown
Meaning, tone, and pinyin for every Han character.
Tones explained
Colour-coded so you can hear them as you read.
Cultural context
Learn how locals actually say things, and what to avoid.
Founders note...
I built Boba Talk after visiting Taiwan and realising existing translation tools didn't help me understand what I was reading. I wanted character breakdowns, help with tones, and an explanation of a word or sentence. But what I was looking for didn't exist so I created Boba Talk.
— Matt
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from Google Translate?
Google Translate gives you a sentence. Boba Talk shows you the meaning of each character, the tone, the romanisation, and how locals say it. You learn with each translation.
Do I need to know Mandarin already?
No. Boba Talk is built for total beginners through to intermediate learners. The character breakdowns, tone colours, and romanisation mean you can read along even on day one.
What do I get free here on the web?
20 translations a month, each with the full character breakdown, tone colours, pinyin, word grouping, and a local usage tip. No sign-up needed.
When are the Mac and iPhone apps coming?
The Mac app is nearly ready and launches first — it adds unlimited breakdowns, curated phrasebooks, audio pronunciation, offline translation, and a summon-from-anywhere hotkey. The iPhone app follows a few weeks later.
Does it work offline?
The web version needs a connection. The upcoming Mac app runs basic Mandarin ↔ English translations on-device, fully offline.