TCB | Read Chinese to Learn 4+

Great app but has recurring glitches

Excellent app. Improves reading and listening comprehension. Easy to use. Stories are interesting and topical. But there are some annoying glitches. Does not store user settings. Before each session the user must re-enter the HSK level and pinyin choices. Does not take the user back to the last story read. Text often does not include items contained in the recording, especially percentages and numbers. Testing function contains numerous bugs and some sections do not work at all. Dictionary frequently does not work. Stories often contain too many words that are above the relevant HSK level. Despite the glitches, this app can drive rapid improvement in Chinese.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for your overall very positive review of the platform! A release in the coming days will allow user preferences to save on closing the app. We'd love to discuss the other issues you mentioned in more detail if you can confirm your device and operating system version to contact@thechairmansbao.com. We'll look into these for you! Thanks - Team TCB.

Great content, but app is lacking

The content is great for practicing your Chinese, especially as it's tailored to various HSK levels. However, the app itself is lacking functionality available on the website. You can't mark articles as read, you can only choose to search a single HSK level rather than a range, and the pop-up dictionary often doesn't have translations for phrases, or will show a definition unrelated to the context the character is in (for example, hovering over the character 花, the first definition given is as 'the surname Hua' rather than 'to spend' or even 'flower').

I will continue to use TCB and enjoy reading the articles, but the lack of functionality on the app makes it difficult to use on my phone when I have to trawl through dozens of articles I've already read because I can't mark them as such.

Really useful

As a teacher I understand how important it is to read regularly – in fact, daily. Reading easy texts is just as important as extending your vocabulary. So TCB offers me ability to read easier HSK levels for comprehension and my current HSK level to practice and extend my vocabulary. I agree with all the comments that this app lacks some of the functionality of the website (for example translations are missing on words that I type, sometimes). However, the service as a whole is excellent. Highly recommended.

Developer Response ,

Hi Harry, thank you for your overall extremely positive feedback about the platform! The dictionary often retrieves multiple definitions which can be cycled through using the arrow to find the most appropriate. We are always looking into ways of expanding the dictionary and "smart" options for definition retrieval going forward. All the best in your studies and teaching! Team TCB.