Pinyin to Chinese converter
Open the converter, switch on Pinyin → 汉字 and type pinyin as ni3 hao3, nǐ hǎo or nihao. The tool returns Chinese characters and lets you choose a different word for any part of the result.
Try it on your own text
Paste Chinese into the converter, or add the extension to see pinyin above characters on any page.
How to convert pinyin to Chinese characters
- Open the converter, which starts directly in the Pinyin → 汉字 mode. On the main page you can also switch it on with the Pinyin → 汉字 button.
- Type your pinyin in the input line. Tone numbers, tone marks and plain letters all work, and you can mix them.
- Look at the preview. Each word is a separate segment; click a segment to see other candidates for it.
- If the tool joined two words that should stay apart, press Split.
- Press Insert to put the Chinese text into the main field, or Copy Chinese to copy it.
The line above is what woaizhongwen becomes. The converter splits unspaced letters into words by itself.
Which pinyin spellings are accepted
| You type | Style | Result |
|---|---|---|
ni3 hao3 | tone numbers | 你好 |
nǐ hǎo | tone marks | 你好 |
nihao | no tones | 你好 |
xi'an | apostrophe marks a syllable boundary | 西安 |
Spaces, apostrophes and hyphens mark syllable boundaries. The letter v stands for ü, as on most keyboards. Text that is not pinyin (English words, digits) stays as you typed it.
Why you get more than one answer
Mandarin has many homophones: the syllable mā alone is 妈, and the same letters without tones fit 麻, 马, 骂 and 吗. The more information you give, the fewer candidates there are:
- Tone numbers or tone marks narrow the list to one tone.
- Whole words (
zhongwen) resolve better than single syllables, because the tool picks the most common word that fits. - The first candidate is the most frequent reading, not a guarantee. Check it against what you meant.
Try it on your own text
Paste Chinese into the converter, or add the extension to see pinyin above characters on any page.
What this is, and what it is not
This is a web tool for producing Chinese characters from pinyin you already know, for example to write a message, look up a word or prepare study material. It is not an operating-system keyboard: it does not type into other apps. If you want pinyin input system-wide, use the pinyin keyboard built into your phone or computer; this guide compares both ways.
The output is Chinese text in simplified characters. If you need pinyin from existing Chinese instead, use the Chinese to pinyin converter.
Frequently asked questions
Is the pinyin to Chinese converter free?
Yes. The converter and the browser extension are free to use. Exporting saved words to Anki or PDF requires signing in with Google.
Do I need tone marks or numbers?
No. nihao works. Adding tones makes the first suggestion more accurate when a syllable has many homophones.
Can I type a whole sentence without spaces?
Yes, for example woaizhongwen. The tool segments it into words; use Split or click a segment if it chose a different grouping from the one you meant.
Does it give traditional characters?
The output is mainly simplified characters.
Does it work on my phone?
The page is responsive and works in a mobile browser. The extension is for desktop browsers.
Try it on your own text
Paste Chinese into the converter, or add the extension to see pinyin above characters on any page.