THE LISTENING GUIDE

How to listen to English podcasts with bilingual subtitles

You follow most of the conversation. Then one sentence slips past, and by the time you translate it, the speakers have moved on. Bilingual subtitles can help you stay with the episode instead of starting a separate translation task.

Choose the help you actually need

An English transcript helps when you know a word in writing but did not catch its sound. A translation helps when you heard the sentence but cannot make sense of it quickly. Seeing both together lets you connect the speaker's wording with the meaning, without switching between apps.

That does not mean reading every line. If you already understand a stretch of conversation, listen. Look down when a phrase catches you out, then return your attention to the audio. The transcript is a way back into the episode, not an assignment to finish.

Get started on iPhone

  1. Choose an English episode. In huh, search for the podcast, paste its Apple Podcasts link, or add its RSS feed. Start with a subject you already care about; knowing the topic gives unfamiliar wording somewhere to land.
  2. Pick your translation language. huh supports explanations and translations in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. These are the languages you read, not additional supported audio languages: subtitle support is currently for English podcasts.
  3. Start listening, then turn on bilingual subtitles. The English sentence and its translation appear together, with the current sentence highlighted. Switching subtitle modes does not change the playback position.
  4. Use sentence help selectively. If a line still does not make sense, use HUH? for its translation, key expressions and any necessary background. Replay that sentence when you are ready, then carry on.

Know what to expect from automatic subtitles

huh processes speech on your iPhone, and subtitles arrive as the audio is transcribed. Opening a new episode or jumping ahead to an unprocessed section can take preparation time. Bilingual mode does not pause the audio, but it cannot make an unprocessed part instantly ready.

Automatic transcripts can mishear names, accents and overlapping voices. A fluent translation is not proof that the original transcript is correct. If the meaning seems surprising or contradicts the discussion, replay the audio and check the wording before relying on it.

For a commute, use the screen as a fallback

When you can safely look at your phone, bilingual text is useful for keeping up with a dense section. When you cannot, stay in listening mode and return to the difficult passage later. Never read subtitles while driving or when your surroundings need your attention.

If the words are clear but the joke still makes no sense, more subtitles may not solve it. Read our guide to understanding the references behind an English podcast.