ZhongLens

Tracking since May 3, 2026.

Changelog

• May 20, 2026
  description

  ZhongLens - a Chinese OCR extension that lets you use a popup dictionary on any content

  ZhongLens helps you read Chinese text that normally cannot be selected, copied, or looked up, including video subtitles, images, screenshots, games, comics, and other visual content inside your browser.
  
  With one click or keyboard shortcut, ZhongLens scans the current tab, recognizes Chinese characters, and places selectable text directly over the original content. You can then hover over the text with your favorite pop-up dictionary extension, such as Zhongwen, to look up words instantly.
  
  ZhongLens is built for Chinese learners who want to read more native content without constantly pausing, screenshotting, copying, or manually typing characters into a dictionary.
  
  Features:
  
  • Scan the current browser tab for Chinese text
  • Works on visual content like subtitles, images, videos, comics, and screenshots
  • Places recognized text directly on top of the original page
  • Hover over recognized text with a pop-up dictionary for instant lookup
  • Local OCR mode runs directly in your browser
  • Cloud OCR mode provides more accurate recognition
  • Crop mode lets you scan only the subtitle or text area for better speed and accuracy
  • Draggable and resizable crop region
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts for opening and closing OCR/crop overlays
  • Adjustable overlay text color
  • Optional caption background for easier reading
  • OCR speed/accuracy settings for cloud processing
  • Built-in onboarding and FAQ
  • Free plan includes unlimited local scans and 50 cloud scans
  • Supporter plan unlocks unlimited cloud OCR
  
  Use ZhongLens to:
  
  • Look up Chinese subtitles while watching videos
  • Read Chinese text embedded in images
  • Study from screenshots, web novels, comics, or learning materials
  • Make hard-to-copy Chinese text accessible to dictionary tools
  • Keep reading without switching apps or manually entering characters
  
  ZhongLens does not replace your dictionary. Instead, it makes image-based Chinese text visible to the dictionary tools you already use. For best results, pair it with a browser pop-up dictionary extension.
  
  Privacy note: Local OCR runs on your device. Cloud OCR sends the captured image for processing, but screenshot/OCR data is not stored.

Permissions & access

Permissions

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Host access

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Screenshots