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SparkleChinese
A Chrome and Firefox extension that swaps some English words on the pages you read for the Chinese words you are learning.
sparklechinese.comMaintenance
Firefox add-on v1.5.1 last updated 2026-08-16 (created 2026-07-27, AMO API); no newer release seen in ten weeks. (checked 2026-10-25)
In Language learning apps
Where it stands apart
- Is it actively maintained? maintenance or slowing (5% of 20 others)
- How is the main thing licensed? permissive open source (MIT/Apache/BSD) (10% of 20 others)
- Which shared standard or format does it mainly build on? HSK levels and word lists (5% of 20 others)
- What does AI do in the product? no AI in the product (24% of 17 others)
- What is the main way you use it? browser extension on other sites (0% of 20 others)
What it shares with most of the community
- Who is it for? non-developers (85% of 20 others)
- How many languages can you learn with it? If it works with content in any language, pick 'any language'. one language (58% of 19 others)
- Does it use game mechanics (streaks, hearts, XP, leaderboards, mini-games)? no game mechanics (69% of 16 others)
Nearest neighbors
- Excuse My French 60% of 15 shared answers match
- Lessong 53% of 15 shared answers match
- Pratevenn 53% of 15 shared answers match
Every answer
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is it actively maintained? | stands apart maintenance or slowing Last update 2026-08-16; may simply be finished. | source 2026-10-26 |
| How is the main thing licensed? | stands apart permissive open source (MIT/Apache/BSD) AMO lists the add-on under MIT; no public repo found. Dictionary data is CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). | source 2026-10-26 |
| How is it mainly sustained? | individual side project, no revenue 'SparkleChinese is free and runs entirely on-device.' | source 2026-10-26 |
| Can it run entirely on your own device or infrastructure, without the maker's servers? | yes 'The translation happens on your device so no data leaves your browser.' | source 2026-10-26 |
| Do you need an account to use it? | no account No sign-in mentioned; everything runs in the browser. | source 2026-10-26 |
| Who is it for? | non-developers | source 2026-10-26 |
| Which shared standard or format does it mainly build on? | stands apart HSK levels and word lists You pick an HSK level and it swaps in that level's words; meanings from CC-CEDICT. | source 2026-10-26 |
| Which learning method does the maker put first? | comprehensible input (reading or listening to real or leveled content) Closest fit: words appear in context in the English you already read; no flashcards. | source 2026-10-26 |
| What does AI do in the product? | stands apart no AI in the product Word lists and dictionary swaps; maker says it was vibe-coded with AI, which is about how it was built. | source 2026-10-26 |
| How many languages can you learn with it? If it works with content in any language, pick 'any language'. | one language | source 2026-10-26 |
| Where does the material you learn from mainly come from? | content you bring (your videos, books, songs, or the pages you browse) The web pages you browse. | source 2026-10-26 |
| How does a learner pay? | free, no paid tier (donations at most) | source 2026-10-26 |
| Does it use game mechanics (streaks, hearts, XP, leaderboards, mini-games)? | no game mechanics | source 2026-10-26 |
| Where is your learning progress kept? | on your device only | source 2026-10-26 |
| What is the main way you use it? | stands apart browser extension on other sites | source 2026-10-26 |
Sources
This page was derived from:
- Hacker News · news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49361272 · collected 2026-10-26
- Web page · addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/sparkle-chinese/ · collected 2026-10-26
- Web page · sparklechinese.com · read 2026-10-25
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