MDBG

What MDBG does

MDBG operates a free, web-based Chinese-English dictionary service aimed at global learners of Mandarin Chinese, from beginners through to HSK exam candidates. The core product is a lookup interface at mdbg.net that returns pinyin (with or without tone numbers), English definitions, simplified and traditional forms, HSK level tags, and example sentences, with companion versions optimized for mobile web (chinesedictionary.mobi) and distributed as Windows and macOS desktop clients. A Character Dictionary module adds stroke order animation, character decomposition, radical lookup, Cangjie and Four Corner codes, while a Practice module supports vocabulary list creation. The service is operated from the Netherlands with a team of approximately five, carries "Made in Holland" and "Made in Europe" badges, and is offered globally without geographic restrictions.

The product is built on the open-source CC-CEDICT collaborative dictionary, supplemented by AI-generated descriptions and usage explanations and by example sentences pulled from the Tatoeba collaborative corpus, with encyclopedia-level context via Baidu Baike links and a Skritter integration for downstream flashcard study. Differentiators are largely domain-specialized (HSK tagging, multiple romanization systems including Bopomofo and Cantonese Yale/Jyutping, wildcard and filtered search syntax) rather than algorithmically novel; the technical moat is concentrated in the breadth of integration points rather than underlying AI or data assets.

The business model is freemium with no paid tiers, subscriptions, or advertising. Monetization is limited to optional user donations, and discovery is driven by organic search engine traffic, a Facebook page, and cross-promotion with Chinese-Forums.com. There are no enterprise customers, no disclosed API, and no hiring or fundraising signals, consistent with an independently operated utility site rather than a venture-backed company.

Name

MDBG

Legal name

MDBG

Website

https://mdbg.net

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MDBG is a free online Chinese-English dictionary serving global Mandarin learners, offering word lookup, character study, HSK-level vocabulary, stroke order animations, and AI-generated explanations across web, desktop, and mobile platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Free Service / Donations: The service appears to operate primarily as a free resource, with options for users to make donations. No paid products or subscription tiers are evident from the source material.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

MDBG operates a free online Chinese-English dictionary built on the CC-CEDICT open-source database, offering word and character lookup with pinyin, multiple pronunciation systems including Mandarin and Cantonese, stroke order animations, HSK level tagging, and example sentences. The service is distributed across web (mdbg.net), mobile web (chinesedictionary.mobi), Windows desktop, and macOS platforms, with optional user donations supporting operations.

Product overview

MDBG offers a suite of Chinese-English dictionary tools centered on the MDBG Chinese Dictionary. The product family includes a web-based dictionary (the primary offering), dedicated Windows and macOS desktop applications, and a mobile-optimized web version. Core functionality is organized into Word Dictionary (for looking up words with definitions, pinyin, and HSK levels), Character Dictionary (for individual character analysis including stroke order and decomposition), and a Practice Module for vocabulary study. All versions draw from the open-source CC-CEDICT dictionary database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MDBG Chinese Dictionary (Web) Online Chinese-English dictionary providing word lookups, character information, stroke order animations, pronunciation audio, and example sentences. Supports both simplified and traditional Chinese with advanced search features including wildcard matching, pinyin filtering, and English definition search.
• MDBG Windows Application Windows desktop version of the Chinese dictionary, available for offline use at mdbg.loqu8.com.
• MDBG macOS Application macOS desktop version of the Chinese dictionary.
• MDBG Mobile Version Mobile-optimized web version of the dictionary accessible at chinesedictionary.mobi.
• Word Dictionary Main dictionary lookup for Chinese words with pinyin, English definitions, HSK levels, character classifiers, and word decomposition features.
• Character Dictionary Individual Chinese character lookup with stroke order animation, character decomposition, radical information, Cangjie codes, Four Corner codes, and Baike references.
• Practice Module Chinese language learning practice tools including vocabulary list creation and study features.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CC-CEDICTcoreTechnology or IntegrationMDBG uses dictionary content from the CC-CEDICT collaborative open-source project, which provides the foundation for its Chinese-English translations and definitions. CC-CEDICT is a community-driven dictionary project.
• Chinese-Forums.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCross-promotional link to Chinese-Forums.com, a community forum for Chinese language learners. Provides users with additional learning support and community engagement options.
• SkrittercoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration allows users to add vocabulary directly to their Skritter flashcard account for spaced repetition learning. Uses referral coupon system (coupon=MDBG) for user attribution.
• loqu8.com (Windows Version)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWindows desktop version of MDBG dictionary is hosted at loqu8.com, suggesting a separate distribution or licensing arrangement for the Windows platform.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Du Chinese: Du Chinese provides graded Chinese reading lessons with tap-to-translate dictionary functionality, targeting the same intermediate Mandarin learner persona as MDBG. It overlaps on vocabulary lookup but differentiates through structured reading content.
• ChineseSkill: ChineseSkill is a mobile-first Mandarin learning app with game-style lessons and vocabulary exercises aimed at casual learners. It serves the same persona as MDBG but with a curriculum-led rather than dictionary-led approach.
• HelloChinese: HelloChinese is a gamified mobile app for learning Mandarin that includes built-in dictionary features and HSK-aligned curriculum. It targets the same beginner-to-intermediate Chinese learner segment as MDBG but emphasizes structured lessons over reference lookup.

Others

• Skritter: Skritter is a Chinese character writing practice platform that is both an MDBG integration partner and an adjacent offering. It targets the same learner base with a complementary skill (writing) rather than overlapping as a direct dictionary competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Memrise: Memrise is a large, well-funded language learning platform offering Chinese courses with vocabulary, audio, and spaced-repetition features. It competes for the same casual learner audience as MDBG but operates at much greater scale with a curriculum-driven model.
• LingQ: LingQ is a broader language learning platform with dictionary and reader functionality across many languages including Chinese. It is comparable to MDBG in offering context-rich vocabulary lookup, but serves a multi-language user base with subscription pricing.

Direct peers

• Pleco: Pleco is the dominant Chinese-English dictionary mobile app for iOS and Android, offering similar word lookup, stroke order, pinyin, and example sentence features for Mandarin learners. It is the closest functional competitor to MDBG, with stronger mobile-native UX and a longer monetization track record.
• Hanping Chinese Dictionary: Hanping is an Android-focused Chinese dictionary app with similar tone-color-coding schemes referenced by MDBG and comparable pinyin, stroke order, and offline lookup features. It directly competes for the same Chinese learner audience, especially on mobile.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mdbg.chinese
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mdbg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MDBG