Some smartphone apps let you use your finger to sketch any character you see - whether Chinese characters or Korean hangul - to get a quick translation.Ĭharacter drawing is useful for translating unusual fonts or reflective surfaces, which can confound photo translation apps. Try ‘handwriting’ what you want translated Travelers should also keep in mind that Google is blocked or otherwise hard to access in mainland China, meaning that you may have to use one (or multiple) of the alternatives. Google’s translator easily dealt with a customs import form written in Thai, or a simple newspaper story written in the Hindi script Devanagari. A feat, almost of magic.Īcross the board, photo apps are quick, functional, and generally offer decent translations - especially of printed material. I could point my phone camera at a menu or a sign, it would take Chinese characters, Japanese kanji and kana, and Korean hangul, and instantly translate it to English on the screen. When I first used a translation app in Asia, at the relative dawn of the industry (circa 2014), the only real option for non-Roman characters was Waygo. With a small amount of help, you can translate dozens of languages and scripts, illuminate pictographs and characters, and learn something new.
We’ve collected some of the best language apps and technology for travelers to Asia - from full-fledged machine-learning translators to a simple tweak to your phone’s keyboard. A walk down a busy road in Malaysia, for example, may bring you into contact with Malay written Simplified Chinese spoken Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien Tamil and perhaps even Hindi.īut while language can be a hurdle, it can also be a joy. After each translation, the Assistant may present Smart Replies, giving you suggestions that let you quickly respond without speaking-which can make your conversations faster and even more seamless.For an English-speaking visitor to Asia - which spans close to 50 countries - navigating a new language can be daunting at first. To get started, just say “Hey Google, be my German translator” or “Hey Google, help me speak Spanish” and you’ll see and hear the translated conversation on your phone. Using your phone, you can have a back and forth conversation with someone speaking a foreign language. To give you even more help during your trip, the Assistant’s real-time translation feature, interpreter mode, is starting to roll out today on Assistant-enabled Android and iOS phones worldwide. Travelers already turn to the Assistant for help researching and checking into flights, finding local restaurant recommendations and more. Only one slight issue-you weren’t able to brush up on a new foreign language in time for your trip. You’ve booked your flights, found the perfect hotel and mapped out all of the must-see local attractions.
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