Pinyin subtitles
Learn Chinese with pinyin subtitles on any video
Chinese subtitles are hard to read aloud when the characters have no pronunciation. LangScribe can place tone-marked pinyin above the line, on a video you open yourself.
Open a local video, an audio file, or a direct link. Import SRT, VTT, or ASS for free, or generate timed Chinese subtitles with AI. Turn on readings and each character can show Mandarin pinyin with tone marks. This is Mandarin, not Cantonese romanization.
Pinyin sits on the subtitle you already have. Import is free. AI transcription uses credits. The video file is not uploaded for playback.
Characters without a reading stay silent
A transcript that only shows hanzi still leaves the tone and the syllable to guess. Pinyin on the same cue lets you read the line and hear it in the same moment.
- Tone marks stay on the syllable
- The reading sits above the character, not in another app
- You can hide the translation and keep the Chinese line
Three steps on a video you open
Any video here means a file or a direct link you can play. LangScribe does not open a streaming catalog.
- Open the video on this device, or paste a direct link. Playback does not upload the file.
- Get Chinese subtitles. Import SRT, VTT, or ASS for free, or run AI subtitles at 2 credits per minute.
- Turn on readings. Mandarin pinyin with tone marks appears above the characters. Then translate, loop one line, or set speed from 0.5× to 2×.
What the pinyin is, and what it is not
Readings are generated on the device from the subtitle text. A character with more than one pronunciation may need a second look. The line is still tied to the timestamp, so you can jump back and hear it.
- Tone-marked pinyin, not a blank romanization
- Not a Cantonese reading system
- Not a score for how you pronounced the line
Study controls on the same line
Pinyin is one layer. The player still has bilingual text, sentence loop, A-B loop, subtitle search, and a click on the timestamp.
Subtitles first, pinyin second
Pinyin is drawn from the subtitle text. Start with a file you already have when you can.
| You have | Do this |
|---|---|
| Chinese SRT, VTT, or ASS | Import free, then turn on readings. |
| Audio or video and no captions | AI subtitles, 2 credits per minute, then pinyin. |
| A character with two readings | Check that syllable against the audio. The tool does not pick a guaranteed reading. |
AI subtitles are a first draft. Fix names and tones that matter, then keep the pinyin on the corrected line.
Import Chinese subtitlesCredits when the video has no subtitles
AI subtitles cost 2 credits per minute of audio and need sign-in. Importing a subtitle file, playback, readings, loops, and free translation do not use those credits. AI translation is billed by the number of lines.
| Audio length | AI subtitles |
|---|---|
| 10 min | 20 credits |
| 30 min | 60 credits |
| 60 min | 120 credits |
Mandarin readings on your own video
- Pinyin here is Mandarin with tone marks. It is not Cantonese romanization.
- A polyphonic character can take more than one reading. Compare it with the audio.
- Use only videos and subtitle files you have the right to use. This is not a streaming-site player.
FAQ
Can LangScribe show pinyin on subtitles?
Yes. Turn on readings and Mandarin pinyin with tone marks can appear above the Chinese characters in the line.
Does pinyin use credits?
No. Readings run from the subtitle text. AI transcription, if you need it, costs 2 credits per minute. Importing SRT, VTT, or ASS is free.
Is the video uploaded?
Not for playback. A local file stays on your device. AI subtitles send short audio chunks, not the film as a hosted upload.
Does this cover Cantonese?
No. The readings are Mandarin pinyin. A Cantonese line is not given a Cantonese romanization.
What if one character has two pronunciations?
The reading is an aid, not a ruling. When a character has more than one pronunciation, check it against what you hear.
Can I loop the line after I see the pinyin?
Yes. Loop the current sentence or an A-B stretch, and set playback from 0.5× to 2×. Click a timestamp to jump back.
Read the character and the syllable together
Open a Chinese video you have, put pinyin on the subtitle, and replay the line until the tone is clear.
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