TL;DR: Caiyun Xiaoyi (彩云小译) is a Chinese AI translation tool that specialises in side-by-side bilingual reading, allowing you to view original and translated text together for web pages, documents, and PDFs.
Official Website: Visit Caiyun small translation | Tool Page: Caiyun small translation details & alternatives
What is Caiyun Xiaoyi?
Caiyun Xiaoyi (彩云小译) is an AI-powered translation service developed by Caiyun Technology, a Beijing-based company known for its neural machine translation research. Its standout feature is bilingual contrast reading — rather than simply replacing text with a translation, Caiyun Xiaoyi displays the original and translated text side by side (or interleaved paragraph by paragraph). This makes it especially popular among language learners, researchers reading foreign papers, and professionals who need to verify translation accuracy at a glance.
Getting Started
Step 1: Install the Browser Extension
- Visit Caiyun small translation
- Install the Chrome or Edge browser extension
- Sign up for a free account with your email or phone number
Step 2: Translate a Web Page
- Navigate to any foreign-language web page
- Click the Caiyun Xiaoyi extension icon
- The page renders with bilingual text — original above, translation below each paragraph
Step 3: Explore Other Modes
- Upload PDFs or documents for bilingual translation
- Use the text box on the website for quick translations
- Try the mobile app for on-the-go translation
Core Features
Bilingual Contrast Reading
- Side-by-side or interleaved original and translated text
- Works on live web pages without breaking page layout
- Toggle between bilingual view and translation-only view
- Supports English-Chinese, Japanese-Chinese, Korean-Chinese, and more
Translation Capabilities
| Feature | Supported Formats |
|---|---|
| Web Page Translation | Any website via browser extension |
| Document Translation | PDF, Word, TXT files |
| Text Translation | Paste text into web interface |
| Mobile Translation | iOS and Android apps |
| API Access | REST API for developers |
Language Pairs
- Chinese to/from English (strongest pair)
- Chinese to/from Japanese
- Chinese to/from Korean
- Chinese to/from French, German, Russian, and others
Developer API
- Free tier: 1 million characters per month
- Simple REST API with JSON responses
- Supports text and document translation
Tips for Best Results
- Use bilingual mode when reading academic papers — you can verify technical terms against the original
- Pin the extension for quick access when browsing English websites
- For long documents, upload the PDF directly rather than copying text paragraph by paragraph
- Use the API free tier for personal translation automation projects
- Combine with a dictionary extension for word-level lookups alongside paragraph-level translation
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic web page translation, limited characters/day |
| Pro | ~$5/month (CNY equivalent) | Unlimited translation, PDF support, priority speed |
| API Free Tier | $0 | 1M characters/month |
| API Paid | Pay-per-character | Higher volume, priority processing |
Try Caiyun small translation
Want to read foreign-language content with bilingual ease? Visit Caiyun small translation's official website to install the browser extension, or view Caiyun small translation details, alternatives & reviews for ratings, alternatives, and user reviews.
FAQs
How does Caiyun Xiaoyi compare to Google Translate?
Caiyun Xiaoyi's bilingual contrast reading is its key differentiator — Google Translate replaces the original text entirely. For Chinese-English translation quality, Caiyun Xiaoyi is competitive and often better for technical and literary content thanks to its specialised neural models.
Is Caiyun Xiaoyi good for language learning?
Excellent. The bilingual display lets you read content in both languages simultaneously, making it one of the best immersive reading tools for Chinese-English learners.
Does the browser extension work on all websites?
It works on most standard HTML websites. Some heavily JavaScript-rendered single-page applications may have compatibility issues, but coverage is broadly reliable.
Is there an API I can use for my own app?
Yes. The Caiyun Translation API offers a free tier of 1 million characters per month, making it accessible for personal projects and small applications.
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Last updated: February 2026
