Whether you are studying Mandarin Chinese or simply want to save Chinese-language YouTube videos for offline viewing, downloading videos with their Chinese subtitles intact is incredibly useful. This guide walks you through three free methods to download YouTube videos with Chinese subtitles (youtube视频在线下载) so you can study on the go, review tricky vocabulary on the train, or build a personal library of Chinese learning material.
We will cover the command-line tool yt-dlp, several online subtitle extraction services, and browser extensions. At the end, we will also show you a smarter alternative that eliminates the need to download anything at all: watching YouTube with free dual Chinese subtitles in real time using Funlingo.
Why Download YouTube Videos with Chinese Subtitles?
YouTube is the largest free library of Chinese-language content on the internet. From native Mandarin vloggers and news channels to Chinese cooking shows and tech reviews, there are millions of hours of authentic Chinese content available. But streaming requires a stable internet connection, and YouTube does not natively let you save videos for offline use on desktop. That is where downloading comes in.
Offline Study Sessions
Save videos to your phone or tablet and study Chinese during commutes, flights, or anywhere without Wi-Fi. Having subtitles embedded means you never lose the learning context.
Review Difficult Passages
Some Chinese phrases need repeated listening. Downloaded videos let you loop specific sections in a media player without buffering delays or ads interrupting your flow.
Build a Personal Library
Curate a collection of Chinese videos organized by topic and difficulty level. Over time, this becomes your personalized immersion library tailored to your learning goals.
Subtitle File Extraction
Extract Chinese subtitle files (SRT or VTT) separately and use them with flashcard tools like Anki, or load them into translation software for deeper vocabulary study.
Method 1: yt-dlp Command Line (Most Powerful)
yt-dlp is a free, open-source command-line tool and the successor to the now-deprecated youtube-dl. It is the most powerful and flexible way to download YouTube videos with subtitles in any language, including Chinese (Simplified and Traditional). If you are comfortable with a terminal, this is the gold standard.
Step 1: Install yt-dlp
You can install yt-dlp on Windows, macOS, or Linux. The easiest methods are:
# Windows (using winget)
winget install yt-dlp
# macOS (using Homebrew)
brew install yt-dlp
# Linux (using pip)
pip install yt-dlp
# Or download the binary directly from GitHub
# https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/releasesStep 2: List Available Subtitle Languages
Before downloading, check which subtitle languages are available for a video:
yt-dlp --list-subs "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"Look for language codes like zh-Hans (Simplified Chinese), zh-Hant (Traditional Chinese), or zh (generic Chinese). Auto-generated subtitles will appear under a separate section.
Step 3: Download Video with Chinese Subtitles
To download a video with embedded Chinese subtitles:
# Download video + Chinese subtitles (embedded into the video)
yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --embed-subs "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"
# Download ONLY the subtitle file (no video)
yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --skip-download "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"
# Download with auto-generated Chinese subtitles
yt-dlp --write-auto-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --embed-subs "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"
# Download with BOTH Chinese and English subtitles
yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang "zh-Hans,en" --embed-subs "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"
# Convert subtitle format to SRT
yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --convert-subs srt --skip-download "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"Step 4: Choose Video Quality
You can specify the video quality to balance file size and resolution:
# Best quality (may be large)
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo+bestaudio" --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --embed-subs URL
# 720p for smaller file size (good for mobile)
yt-dlp -f "bestvideo[height<=720]+bestaudio" --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --embed-subs URL
# Download entire playlist with Chinese subs
yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --embed-subs "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAYLIST_ID"Method 2: Online Subtitle Download Tools (Easiest)
If you do not want to install anything, several online tools let you extract Chinese subtitles from YouTube videos directly in your browser. These are the simplest option, though they usually only download the subtitle file itself, not the video.
SaveSubs
SaveSubs is one of the most popular online tools for downloading YouTube subtitles. Simply paste the video URL, select Chinese from the language list, and download the subtitle file in SRT or TXT format. It supports both human-written and auto-generated subtitles.
URL: savesubs.com | Formats: SRT, TXT, VTT
DownSub
DownSub extracts subtitles from YouTube, Viki, VLive, and other platforms. It automatically detects all available languages and lets you download any of them as SRT or TXT files. DownSub also offers a translation feature that can machine-translate subtitles into Chinese if the original language is different.
URL: downsub.com | Formats: SRT, TXT
YouTubeTranscript.com
This tool generates a full text transcript of any YouTube video with timestamps. Paste the URL, choose Chinese, and you get a timestamped transcript you can copy or download. It is especially useful when you want to study the text alongside the video without needing a separate subtitle file.
URL: youtubetranscript.com | Formats: TXT with timestamps
How to Use Online Tools (General Steps)
Method 3: Browser Extensions
Several Chrome and Firefox extensions can download YouTube videos or extract subtitles directly from your browser. These offer a middle ground between the power of yt-dlp and the simplicity of online tools.
Subtitle Downloader Extensions
Extensions like Substital and YouTube Subtitle Downloader add a download button directly on the YouTube player page. When you click it, you can select Chinese and download the subtitle file in SRT format. These are convenient because they integrate right into your browsing workflow.
Video Downloader Extensions
Extensions like Video DownloadHelper can download the actual video file from many sites. However, most video downloader extensions do not embed subtitles into the downloaded file. You would need to download the video and subtitle file separately, then combine them using a media player like VLC or a tool like FFmpeg.
Comparison: Which Method Should You Use?
Each method has its strengths. Here is a side-by-side comparison to help you decide.
| Feature | yt-dlp | Online Tools | Extensions | Funlingo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downloads video | ||||
| Downloads Chinese subtitles | ||||
| Embeds subs in video | ||||
| Dual subtitles (Chinese + English) | Manual | |||
| No installation needed | ||||
| Batch download playlists | ||||
| Click-to-translate words | ||||
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free |
A Better Alternative: Watch with Dual Chinese Subtitles (No Downloading)
Downloading videos is useful for offline access, but if your primary goal is learning Chinese, there is a faster and more effective approach. Instead of downloading, you can watch YouTube videos with dual subtitles in real time, seeing Chinese and your native language simultaneously on the screen.
Funlingo is a free Chrome extension that adds dual subtitles to YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. For Chinese learners, it displays Chinese characters (Simplified or Traditional) alongside an English translation (or any other language) directly below the video. You do not need to download anything, manage subtitle files, or use command-line tools.
Why Funlingo Beats Downloading for Chinese Learning
Best Chinese YouTube Channels for Language Learning
Whether you download videos or use Funlingo for real-time dual subtitles, you need great content. Here are the best Chinese YouTube channels organized by category and difficulty level.
Mandarin Corner
Street interviews and real-life conversations in Mandarin with pinyin and English subtitles. Content ranges from beginner to advanced and covers everyday topics that teach practical, usable Chinese.
Li Ziqi
Beautiful cinematic videos about traditional Chinese cooking and rural life. Minimal dialogue but excellent for cultural immersion and learning food and nature vocabulary at a gentle pace.
ChinesePod
Structured Mandarin lessons organized by proficiency level. Each video focuses on a specific grammar point or vocabulary theme with clear explanations and example sentences.
CCTV Chinese
Official CCTV channel with news broadcasts, documentaries, and cultural programs. Formal Mandarin with clear pronunciation, ideal for learners targeting professional or academic Chinese.
Xiao Ma NYC
A polyglot who speaks Mandarin on the streets of New York, surprising native speakers. Fun, engaging content that demonstrates natural conversational Chinese in real-world interactions.
Dashu Mandarin
Short, focused lessons on Chinese grammar, sentence patterns, and common mistakes. Great for learners who want structured explanations alongside their immersion practice.
For more strategies on learning through video content, check out our guide on how to learn a language by watching and tips for building vocabulary while watching shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most reliable method is yt-dlp with the command yt-dlp --write-sub --sub-lang zh-Hans --embed-subs URL. For a simpler approach, use online tools like SaveSubs or DownSub to extract just the subtitle file. For real-time Chinese learning without downloading, install the free Funlingo Chrome extension for dual subtitles.
Yes. Funlingo is a free Chrome extension that displays dual subtitles on YouTube, showing Chinese and English (or any other language pair) simultaneously. No downloading or subtitle file management required.
YouTube's auto-generated Chinese subtitles have improved significantly but are not perfect, especially with fast speech, accents, or specialized vocabulary. For language learning, videos with manually created Chinese subtitles are more reliable. Funlingo works with both auto-generated and manual subtitles.
Downloading YouTube videos is against YouTube's Terms of Service unless the video has a download option enabled by the creator. Downloading subtitle files alone (without the video) falls into a grayer area. For a completely compliant approach, use Funlingo to watch with dual subtitles directly on YouTube without downloading anything.
SRT (SubRip) is the most widely supported format and works with nearly every media player including VLC, MPV, and PotPlayer. VTT (WebVTT) is another good option, especially for web-based players. Both formats handle Chinese characters without issues as long as the file encoding is UTF-8.