macOS · Pinyin IME · Private by default

Learn English while you type

Xueci IME connects candidates, glosses, and review into one loop: pick up words as you type Chinese, then review them with a spaced-repetition schedule. Dictionaries and habits stay on your Mac—no network required unless you turn AI on.

Installer coming soon (client ≈ 0.8.4). Set PUBLIC_DMG_URL at deploy time. Backend API scaffolding is ready for local use.

How to enable after install →

  • Current version 0.8.4
  • Apple Silicon / Intel
  • Free 200 words · AI 20/day · Pro one-time
Xueci IME candidates and English glosses

Highlights

Type, collect, review—one loop

Neutral VI and frosted glass: calm and professional, not neon gradients.

Learn as you type

English glosses appear above candidates. ⌃L saves a word to your vocab list without breaking flow.

Daily review

About 10 words/day by forgetting curve. ⌃⇧R opens a compact window—Knew it / Forgot it.

Private by default

Dictionary, habit store, and vocab list stay local. Optional AI translation; keys go in Keychain.

Chinese + English

Shift shows a toast when switching. In Chinese mode, type hello / iphone and commit English candidates directly.

Personal habit learning

Words you pick rise in rank. Toggle learning or clear memory anytime in Settings.

Optional AI engines

Company-funded quota (Free 20 / Pro 300 per day), or bring your own key. Master switch defaults off—never blocks typing.

Install guide

Enable after install

macOS input methods must be added manually. Five steps—about a minute—until you see 「學」 in the menu bar.

  1. Download and install

    Download the .dmg from this page. Drag IMEVocab.app (Xueci IME) into the Input Methods folder, or copy it to ~/Library/Input Methods/.

  2. Open Input Sources

    System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → Edit…

  3. Add Xueci IME

    Click +, choose Chinese (Simplified) or Other, find 「学词输入法 / Xueci IME」, and add it. After upgrading, if it disappears from the menu bar, remove the old source and add it again.

  4. Switch and type

    Click the menu bar input icon and select Xueci IME (「學」). You’re ready to type and learn.

  5. Not in the list?

    Log out or restart Mac, then try again. Still missing? Remove and re-add the source; if needed, delete the old copy under ~/Library/Input Methods/ and reinstall.

Tip: if the menu bar icon looks wrong after the first add, remove and re-add the input source to refresh it. More detail in the FAQ.

Pricing

Start free, upgrade with a one-time purchase

Payments will use Waffo Pancake (international cards + WeChat). Buy buttons are placeholders for now.

Free

¥0

  • Full Pinyin input
  • Vocab list up to 200 words
  • AI polish 20 times/day
  • Local habit learning · daily review
Free download

Recommended

Pro

¥68–98 / $15 one-time

  • Unlimited vocab list
  • AI polish 300 times/day
  • License for 1–2 Macs
  • Priority feature updates

FAQ

Common questions

How do I install it?

Download the .dmg, put the app in Input Methods, then add 「学词输入法」 under System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources. Full five steps are in the install guide. If the icon looks wrong after the first add, remove and re-add the source.

Does my data go to the cloud?

Dictionary, habits, and vocab stay on your Mac by default. With company-funded AI, requests go through our proxy (daily quota). With your own API key, traffic goes to the engine you choose. Backend scaffolding exists; the public download is still a placeholder.

How is this different from Sogou / system Pinyin?

Xueci is built for “learn while typing”: glosses beside candidates, one-key save, spaced review. Input follows standard QWERTY Pinyin, with English word candidates in Chinese mode.

How do I buy and activate Pro?

The site will integrate Waffo Pancake. After purchase, a license is emailed and bound in the client (planned for 1–2 Macs). Buttons currently say “Coming soon.”

Which macOS versions are supported?

Recent macOS on Apple Silicon and Intel. The exact minimum version will be listed with the installer when it ships.