Learn on the watch page
Use the desktop extension on supported YouTube watch pages with usable Chinese subtitles.
Interactive Chinese subtitles and transcripts
Learn Chinese with YouTube subtitles
Use Rolko on supported YouTube watch pages to explore Chinese subtitles for pinyin and meaning, or import a supported transcript into the web app when captions are available. Save useful words into the same vocabulary and review workflow. Support depends on usable subtitle or transcript data, and Rolko is not affiliated with YouTube.
Start for free
Works in Safari, Firefox, and mobile browsers. No extension required.
Interactive product proof
Try an interactive YouTube-style subtitle
This product demo shows the real Rolko subtitle lookup and vocabulary-state interaction before you install the extension.
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学中文说汉语听读
后来我发现，这座城市比想象中更温柔。★
0:00 / 0:15
↑Extension overlay — tap or hover a word to explore
Product workflow
Two ways to learn from a YouTube video
Import supported transcripts
Paste a supported YouTube URL into the web app when captions are available and study the transcript line by line.
Save and review vocabulary
Keep useful words from subtitles or transcripts and review them later with spaced repetition.
Continue in Rolko
Bring an available transcript into the web app
When a supported YouTube transcript is available, import it into Rolko to read line by line, explore words, and save useful vocabulary.
Reading workspace
学中文的秘诀
Tap or hover any word for pinyin and meaning, then save it as learned or learning.
Word Coverage
Learned: 50%Learning: 20%New: 30%
主持人
你学中文多久了？
嘉宾
大概三年了，但是每天都要练习。
主持人
有什么好的学习方法吗？
嘉宾
我觉得看中文剧最有用，边看边学。
Related Rolko answers
Continue with the workflow you need
What is Rolko, and when should you use it?
Rolko is a language-learning web app and browser extension for interactive subtitles, webpage text, vocabulary tracking and spaced-repetition review.
A focused Language Reactor alternative for learning Chinese
Looking for a Language Reactor alternative focused on Chinese? Use Rolko to explore Chinese subtitles, save useful words and review them with spaced repetition.
Learn Chinese with Netflix subtitles
Learn Chinese with supported Netflix subtitles on desktop. Explore words for pinyin and meaning, save vocabulary and review it later with Rolko.
A Chinese popup dictionary that also remembers your words
Use Rolko to explore normal Chinese webpage text for pinyin and meaning, save useful words and keep them in one vocabulary and review workflow.
Track the Chinese words you meet in real content
Track Chinese words from supported subtitles, webpages and imported text in Rolko, then review saved vocabulary with spaced repetition.
How to understand Chinese characters in videos
Learn when Rolko can make Chinese subtitles or transcripts interactive and when Chinese text baked into video pixels requires a separate OCR tool.
Common questions
What to know before you start
Does Rolko work with every YouTube video?
No. Interactive subtitles and transcript import depend on Chinese captions or transcript data being available through a supported watch or import flow.
Can Rolko import a YouTube transcript?
Yes, when a supported transcript is available. Paste the YouTube URL into the Rolko web app to import and read it line by line.
Do I need the browser extension?
Install the browser extension for interactive subtitles on supported desktop YouTube watch pages. Transcript reading in the web app does not require the extension.
Can I learn from YouTube on mobile?
Use the Rolko web app on mobile to read Chinese text and supported imported transcripts. The watch-page extension workflow is for desktop.
Is Rolko affiliated with YouTube?
No. Rolko is an independent learning product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by YouTube.