SayLens

Support

Found a bug, have an idea, or need help? Open an issue and it will get a reply.

Frequently asked questions

How do I switch between Mandarin and Cantonese?

Tap Mandarin or Cantonese at the top of the camera or of a photo. The readings and the voice switch with it. You can also pick the spoken variety in Settings (the gear at the top right of the camera).

What's the difference between Jyutping and Yale?

Both spell Cantonese in Latin letters. Jyutping writes each tone as a number (nei5 hou2); Yale uses accent marks and an h for the low tones (néih hóu). Choose one in Settings › Cantonese romanization.

A menu is too busy. Can I hide the readings?

Yes. Tap the readings button at the bottom right of the camera or of the photo to see just a box around each line, then tap a box for its reading and meaning. Tap the button again to bring the readings back. The same switch is in Settings › Show readings.

Why does iOS ask to download a language?

SayLens translates on your iPhone with Apple's Translation. The first time you translate into a language, iOS may ask to download it once; until then SayLens shows dictionary meanings. Change the language in Settings › Translate to. After the download, translations work offline.

Why can't I hear anything when I tap Speak?

Your iPhone may not have a Chinese voice yet. Open Settings › Accessibility › Read & Speak (or Spoken Content) › Voices, choose Chinese and download a voice: Hong Kong voices speak Cantonese, China mainland and Taiwan voices speak Mandarin. Then try again in SayLens.

Does SayLens collect my data?

No. There's no account, no analytics, no ads and no tracking. The camera is used only to read text, and photos, scans and translations stay on your iPhone. Delete scans in History, or delete the app to remove everything.