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What is ydict?

ir1d/ydict — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-18 · repo last pushed 2018-06-21

GoAudience · developerComplexity · 1/5DormantLicenseSetup · easy

In one sentence

A command-line dictionary that looks up Chinese-English word definitions, examples, and pronunciation without leaving the terminal.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((ydict))
    What it does
      Looks up words
      Chinese-English translation
      Reads words aloud
    Tech stack
      Go
      Youdao API
    Use cases
      Check unfamiliar terms
      Learn Chinese
      Work behind proxy
    Audience
      Developers
      Writers
      Bilingual learners

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Look up an unfamiliar English term while reading code documentation

USE CASE 2

Verify Chinese word meanings while working, without switching windows

USE CASE 3

Hear a word pronounced aloud on Mac or Linux

USE CASE 4

Look up dictionary entries through a SOCKS5 proxy when direct access is restricted

What is it built with?

Go

How does it compare?

ir1d/ydict42wim/fabio42wim/go-xmpp
LanguageGoGoGo
Last pushed2018-06-212018-02-042020-01-24
MaintenanceDormantDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasymoderatemoderate
Complexity1/53/53/5
Audiencedeveloperops devopsdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Single executable, audio pronunciation needs an audio player installed.

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

So what is it?

Ydict is a command-line dictionary tool that lets you quickly look up words without leaving your terminal. Instead of opening a browser or a separate app, you type a word and get the definition instantly. It's built for people who spend a lot of time working in the command line and want to stay in that environment. The tool connects to Youdao, a popular online dictionary, and translates between Chinese and English. When you search for a word, it fetches the definition, shows you example sentences of how the word is used, and can even pronounce it aloud if you ask. If the exact word isn't found, it suggests similar words so you're not stuck. You can ask for more example sentences with a flag, and on Mac or Linux you can hear the pronunciation by installing an audio player. This is handy for developers, writers, or anyone bilingual who's always working in a terminal. Say you're reading some code documentation and come across an unfamiliar English term, you can look it up in seconds without switching windows. Or if you're learning Chinese, you can quickly verify meanings while you work. The tool also supports SOCKS5 proxies if you're behind a firewall or in a region where direct access is restricted, which makes it useful for people with connectivity constraints. The project is written in Go, a language known for creating fast, simple command-line tools, and it's distributed as a single executable file you can download or install via Homebrew if you're on Mac. The code is open-source under the MIT License.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Show me how to install ydict on Mac using Homebrew
Prompt 2
How do I use ydict to look up a Chinese word and see example sentences
Prompt 3
Help me configure ydict to use a SOCKS5 proxy
Prompt 4
Show me the flag to get more example sentences from ydict

Frequently asked questions

What is ydict?

A command-line dictionary that looks up Chinese-English word definitions, examples, and pronunciation without leaving the terminal.

What language is ydict written in?

Mainly Go. The stack also includes Go.

Is ydict actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2018-06-21).

What license does ydict use?

Use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

How hard is ydict to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is ydict for?

Mainly developer.

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