Chinese (Simplified) Translation Notes

Chinese (Simplified, zh-CN) Translation Notes

Thinking Behind Translation Adjustments

1. Terminology Shift: Moving Away from “秘密” (Secret)

Reasoning: Following the style guide’s Danish example, “秘密” (secret) in Chinese carries strong connotations of personal, hidden, or confidential information with emotional weight - similar to the Italian “segreto.” It suggests something deliberately concealed rather than a functional security feature.

Key Examples:

• "secretLinks": "Secret Links" → "一次性链接" (one-time links)
• "createSecrets": "Create Secrets" → "创建内容" (create content)
• "retrieveSecrets": "Retrieve Secrets" → "获取内容" (retrieve content)
• "whyUseSecretLinks": "Why Use Secret Links" → "为什么使用一次性链接" (why use one-time links)

Alternative considered: “临时信息” (temporary information) or “加密消息” (encrypted messages), but “一次性” (one-time) better emphasizes the core product feature of single-use access.

2. UI Text Optimization for Chinese Language Patterns

Reasoning: Chinese language structure allows for more concise expressions. The style guide emphasizes efficiency and respect for users’ time.

Key Examples:

• "gettingStarted": "Getting Started" → "开始使用" (start using - more direct action)
• "page.editLink": "Edit page" → "编辑" (edit - concise button text)
• "expressiveCode.copyButtonCopied": "Copied!" → "已复制" (copied - removed exclamation)
• "pagefind.load_more": "Load more results" → "加载更多" (load more - simplified)

3. Cultural and Linguistic Adaptations

Reasoning: Natural Chinese phrasing while maintaining professional tone for both technical and general users.

Key Examples:

• "404.text": Made more direct and natural in Chinese sentence structure
• "search.devWarning": Simplified technical explanation to flow better in Chinese
• "sidebarNav.accessibleLabel": "Main" → "主导航" (main navigation - more descriptive for screen readers)
• "i18n.untranslatedContent" → "此内容暂无中文版本" (more natural Chinese phrasing)

4. Voice Consistency Based on Chinese Usage Patterns

Reasoning: Chinese interface conventions often use different patterns for actions vs. status messages.

Key Examples:

• Actions: "开始使用" (start using), "编辑" (edit), "复制" (copy)
• Status: "已复制" (copied), "最后更新" (last updated)
• Navigation: "概览" (overview), "主导航" (main navigation)

5. Technical Term Standardization

Reasoning: Maintained consistency with established Chinese technical terminology while keeping international terms where appropriate.

Key Examples:

• Kept: API, REST, v1, v2, Starlight (international technical terms)
• Translated: "clientLibraries" → "客户端库" (standard Chinese tech term)
• Translated: "securityBestPractices" → "安全最佳实践" (established Chinese phrase)

Summary of Changes to the Chinese (Simplified) Translation

Core Terminology Evolution

• “秘密” → Functional alternatives: Replaced “secret” with “内容” (content) for create/retrieve actions and “一次性链接” (one-time links) for the core feature
• Maintained technical precision: API, REST, version numbers preserved
• Brand names untranslated: Starlight, Onetime Secret kept in original form

UI/UX Text Refinements

• Removed exclamation marks: Following style guide punctuation principles
• Shortened action text: "编辑页面" → "编辑" for button efficiency
• Simplified tooltips: "复制到剪贴板" → "复制" for clarity
• Natural Chinese flow: Restructured phrases to follow Chinese language patterns

Voice and Tone Consistency

• Action-oriented for user tasks: "开始使用" instead of "开始入门"
• Declarative for status: "已复制" (completed state) vs "复制" (action)
• Professional yet accessible: Maintained warmth while being concise

Chinese-Specific Improvements

• Better accessibility labels: "主导航" (main navigation) more descriptive than direct translation
• Natural sentence structure: Adapted error messages and descriptions to Chinese writing patterns
• Appropriate formality level: Professional tone suitable for both technical and general Chinese users

Configuration Integration

• Added zh-cn support: Updated sidebar configuration to load and integrate Chinese translations
• Fixed locale configuration: Corrected BCP 47 language tag from zh_cn to zh-CN
• Resolved build issues: Fixed malformed frontmatter across multiple markdown files

These changes align the Chinese translation with the style guide’s core principles: authenticity, efficiency, and clear communication that serves both technical professionals and general users, while respecting Chinese language conventions and cultural expectations.