[2026 Edition] The Complete Guide to Chinese Text-to-Speech | Detailed Explanations from Pronunciation Practice to Inbound Tourism

How can I read Chinese aloud and create an audio file?

In this article, we will explain the recommended methods for reading Chinese text aloud!

An essential part of studying Chinese is listening to native reading voices to learn pronunciation.

By using the latest AI reading services, you can study Chinese with reading voices of any content you like.

Furthermore, it can be widely used beyond studying, such as adding Chinese audio to videos or creating audio for inbound tourists.

Creating Chinese audio with an AI reading service is very simple.

Why not use this article as a reference to utilize Chinese reading voices for your studies, hobbies, or work?

Recommended AI Services for Reading Chinese Text Aloud

The recommended service for reading Chinese audio aloud is Ondoku.

Ondoku is an AI reading service that can generate realistic and easy-to-understand audio using the latest AI engines.

Since it can read aloud with native pronunciation, it is perfect for studying pronunciation, which is the most important part of learning Chinese.

In addition to studying, it can be used for a wide range of purposes such as video production and tourist guidance for inbound visitors.

Moreover, Ondoku can be used for free!

You can read aloud for free up to 5,000 characters without registration or login, allowing you to generate numerous example sentences for learning pronunciation and conversational expressions for free.

If you want to read Chinese text aloud, why not start by using Ondoku?

[Pronunciation/Conversation] We Recommend Text-to-Speech Services for Studying Chinese

My Chinese isn't getting better no matter how much time passes...

In such cases, we recommend utilizing a text-to-speech service!

The most important thing when studying Chinese is pronunciation.

Chinese pronunciation is very difficult to master for non-native speakers, and studying on your own can sometimes lead to developing incorrect habits...

Therefore, we recommend using a text-to-speech service to learn native pronunciation.

Chinese "Tones" are Difficult

In Chinese, the meaning of a word changes depending on the variation in pitch.

The variations in Chinese sounds are called "tones" (聲調), and there are the following four types:

• 1st tone: A high and level sound
• 2nd tone: A sound that rises from low to high
• 3rd tone: A sound that drops from a low pitch and then rises slightly
• 4th tone: A sound that falls from high to low

For example, even with the same sound "ma":

• 1st tone (mā): 妈 (mother)
• 2nd tone (má): 麻 (numb)
• 3rd tone (mǎ): 马 (horse)
• 4th tone (mà): 骂 (scold)

As shown, the meaning changes completely when the tone changes.

These tones are the most difficult point to learn for non-native Chinese speakers.

Since tones can change when pronounced consecutively, it is necessary to actually speak them aloud and learn the pronunciation as sound rather than simply memorizing them.

Chinese-Specific Pronunciation is Also a Difficult Point

Additionally, pronunciation specific to Chinese other than tones is also a very difficult point.

For example, retroflex sounds like "zh," "ch," "sh," and "r" are particularly difficult for foreigners to pronounce.

It is very common for the "ri" in "rìběn rén" (Japanese person) to be mispronounced, sounding like "li" (立) to a native speaker.

Also, the "zhōng" in "zhōng guó" (China) is difficult for many learners, and it's easy to end up being unable to pronounce either "Japan" or "China" despite studying Chinese.

As such, Chinese is a language with very difficult pronunciation.

But don't worry.

By utilizing AI reading services, you can master Chinese pronunciation!

Reading Aloud is a Shortcut to Chinese Pronunciation

As explained, Chinese is particularly difficult in terms of pronunciation among foreign languages.

The shortcut to acquiring Chinese pronunciation is to simply mimic native pronunciation and speak.

By actually pronouncing it, you can learn Chinese pronunciation with your body rather than just your head.

However, native audio on video sites is often too fast or has accents, making it unsuitable for mimicking in many cases.

Therefore, we recommend creating native pronunciation reading audio with an AI reading service.

An AI reading service can read the entered Chinese text with very clean Putonghua (Standard Mandarin) pronunciation.

When foreigners learn Chinese, the basic first step is to learn the standard Putonghua.

By using an AI reading service, you can learn clean native pronunciation Putonghua without any accents.

Also Recommended for Increasing Conversation Variations

AI reading services are also recommended for increasing the variety of your Chinese conversations.

The shortcut to becoming able to converse in a foreign language is to increase the repertoire of sentences you use in conversation.

However, with only introductory Chinese books or phrasebooks, there are limits to conversation variations.

Some introductory books even use expressions that natives don't use, such as "请多关照" (Qing duo guanzhao).

By reading Chinese text aloud with an AI reading service, you can obtain an infinite amount of practical teaching materials with native pronunciation for free.

By reading aloud while listening to the audio, you will become able to speak fluently with practical phrases.

Ondoku is Recommended for Studying Chinese

Ondoku is a recommended AI service for reading Chinese aloud.

It is a web service used from a browser, and you can use it immediately by opening the page from here.

A feature of Ondoku is the ability to read aloud with native pronunciation!

Since it can read Chinese text aloud with easy-to-understand pronunciation comparable to an announcer or actor, it is perfect for studying pronunciation and conversation.

Moreover, it supports:

• Putonghua (普通话, Standard Mandarin of the People's Republic of China)
• Taiwanese Mandarin (臺灣國語, Standard Mandarin used in Taiwan)
• Cantonese (廣東話, language used in Hong Kong, Macau, etc.)

So it can also be used if you want to learn Taiwanese pronunciation or Cantonese (Cantonese is explained in detail in this article).

Furthermore, Ondoku is free!

You can read 5,000 characters for free without registration or login, allowing you to obtain over 100 conversation materials at once.

Why not create Chinese reading audio with the free-to-use Ondoku?

Beyond Studying! How to Use Chinese AI Text-to-Speech

Audio generated by AI reading services can be widely used for purposes other than studying Chinese, such as video narration and tourist guidance for inbound visitors.

Publishing Chinese Videos on Video Sites

For those who are producing videos, we recommend generating Chinese audio with an AI reading service to create Chinese-language videos.

For example, if you upload a Chinese video to YouTube, it can be viewed by Chinese speakers living in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and all over the world.

It is also recommended to post to domestic services in the People's Republic of China, such as the video site bilibili, or short video apps like Xiaohongshu (小红书) and Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok).

In addition to hobbyist video production, if you utilize Chinese reading audio for corporate promotional videos, you can aim to appeal to the Chinese-speaking world.

Creating Inbound Guidance Audio with AI

The number of inbound tourists is steadily increasing.

China (People's Republic of China) is one of the countries with a particularly high number of inbound tourists.

In addition, a very large number of inbound tourists visit from countries and regions where Chinese is used, such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.

To prevent overtourism that arises with the increase in inbound tourists, we recommend creating guidance audio with an AI reading service.

By creating guidance audio in Chinese for stores, public facilities, stations, etc., you can accurately guide inbound tourists.

Promoting souvenirs, services, and activities in Chinese can also increase the revenue of stores and facilities!

Since it can reduce the workload of staff handling inbound tourists, it is also recommended for improving the workplace labor environment.

What is the Process for Reading Chinese Audio Aloud? How to Use it for Materials, Video Narration, and Inbound Needs

I want to know how to read Chinese audio aloud with AI!

From here, we will clearly explain the process of reading Chinese aloud and creating audio using the AI reading service Ondoku!

1. Prepare the Chinese Text

First, prepare the Chinese text to be read aloud.

For Studying Pronunciation and Conversation

When studying Chinese pronunciation or conversation, it is recommended to use Chinese text from fields you are interested in.

For example, if you are a fan of celebrities or artists from the Chinese-speaking world, try using text from Chinese interview articles.

If you are doing business with Chinese companies, it is also good to use text from Chinese news sites.

For Video Narration

Prepare a script for the video you want to narrate and translate it into Chinese.

If you don't have a script and are based on a video originally spoken in another language like Japanese, using an AI transcription service to transcribe (convert to text) the video allows you to prepare the text quickly.

For video transcription, the AI transcription service Mojiokoshi-san is recommended.

This article explains how to create subtitles from a video with Mojiokoshi-san.

How to Transcribe Videos and Add Subtitles? Explaining Recommended Methods for Converting mp4 Files to Text! | AI Transcription Service - Mojiokoshi-san

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For Inbound Audio Guidance

When creating audio guidance for inbound tourists, also prepare the script text and translate it.

• Our store is a tax-free shop. For information on how to purchase products, please feel free to ask the staff.
• This ticket gate is for the subway only. For trains going to Tokyo Station, please use the ticket gate on the right ahead.

Prepare inbound-oriented sentences according to the situation.

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Reduce costs for inbound support! Easily create multilingual guidance broadcasts with AI voice for free. Ondoku supports 48 languages and is ideal for tourist facilities, stores, and transportation. Improve customer satisfaction by streamlining guidance tasks! Click here for details.

How to Translate Text into Chinese

If the original text is in a language other than Chinese, use a translation service or a generative AI service to translate it into Chinese.

When using a translation service, Baidu Fanyi (百度翻译), operated by China's "Baidu," is a standard choice.

Locally in China, Youdao Fanyi (有道翻译) seems to be more widely used, but for Chinese learners, Baidu Fanyi has the impression of being more versatile.

It is also recommended to ask generative AI services such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude: "Please translate the following text. Please explain the translated Chinese text."

You can create text that is even more natural and feels less out of place to a native speaker than a translation service.

Chinese translation is explained in this article.

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2. Reading Aloud with Ondoku

Read the Chinese text aloud with Ondoku.

First, open the Ondoku top page from here.

Paste the Chinese text you want to read aloud into the text box.

Select Language

Ondoku supports:

• Putonghua (普通话)
• Taiwanese Mandarin (臺灣國語)
• Cantonese (廣東話)

Select from the languages according to your needs.

Select Voice Type

Select the type of voice.

*Samples of Chinese voices can be listened to in this article.

Select Speed

Ondoku also allows you to choose the reading speed.

When using it for studying Chinese pronunciation or conversation, it is recommended to change the speed according to your learning level.

Start Reading

When settings are complete, press the "Read" button to start reading aloud.

3. Text-to-Speech Complete

Ondoku's reading process completes immediately.

When the process is finished, the screen switches, and an audio player is displayed.

Listen to the audio, and if there are no problems, press the "Download" button to download the MP3 file.

This completes the process of reading Chinese text aloud with Ondoku!

Since it is very easy to read aloud, why not utilize Ondoku for Chinese study, video production, or inbound countermeasures?

Ondoku Also Supports Chinese Dialects!

In addition to Putonghua, Taiwanese Mandarin, and Cantonese, Ondoku supports various regional dialects!

Usage is simple.

Just select "Putonghua" and then choose a dialect from the "Voice" options.

You can choose these options.

It is interesting just to compare the same sentences, so it is recommended for those studying Chinese!

■ AI voice synthesis software "Ondoku"

"Ondoku" is an online text-to-speech tool that can be used with no initial costs.

• Supports approximately 50 languages, including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, and German
• Available from both PC and smartphone
• Suitable for business, education, entertainment, etc.
• No installation required, can be used immediately from your browser
• Supports reading from images

To use it, simply enter text or upload a file on the site. A natural-sounding audio file will be generated within seconds. You can use voice synthesis up to 5,000 characters for free, so please give it a try.

Text-to-speech software "Ondoku" can read out 5000 characters every month with AI voice for free. You can easily download MP3s and commercial use is also possible. If you sign up for free, you can convert up to 5,000 characters per month for free from text to speech. Try Ondoku now.

HP: ondoku3.com
Email: ondoku3.com@gmail.com