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.

Tiered Terminology for “Secret” (as Noun)

Replacing “秘密” with a single term across all contexts would lose important nuance. Instead, we use a three-tier system based on the communication context:

Tier	Term	Context	Examples
1. UI/Functional	内容 (content)	Buttons, actions, API operations	创建内容, 获取内容, 销毁内容
2. Descriptive/Documentation	机密内容 (confidential content)	Prose explaining features, how-it-works sections	您的机密内容将被加密存储
3. Marketing/Persuasive	机密信息 (confidential information)	Pricing pages, landing copy, calls to action	自信地共享机密信息

Rationale for the tiers:

• 内容 (Tier 1) is intentionally neutral and functional. In button labels and API descriptions, users need quick comprehension without emotional weight. “创建内容” reads like a standard action, not a dramatic revelation.
• 机密内容 (Tier 2) adds the “confidential” qualifier for documentation contexts where the security nature of the content matters. When explaining how encryption works or what happens to stored data, readers need to understand that this is not ordinary content but confidential material.
• 机密信息 (Tier 3) uses “information” (信息) instead of “content” (内容) because marketing copy addresses the reader’s broader concern of protecting sensitive information. “机密信息” sounds more natural in persuasive Chinese prose and aligns with how security products are marketed in the Chinese-speaking market.

Additional mapping:

• “secret link” → 一次性链接 (one-time link) in all contexts — emphasizing the one-time-use property rather than secrecy
• The product feature “Secret Links” → 一次性链接 in navigation and headers

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)

Ellipsis Usage in UI Text

Formal Standard: In Chinese punctuation, the ellipsis (省略号) consists of six dots (……) occupying the space of two full-width characters【0】. This is the typographically correct form for printed materials.

UI Implementation: For digital interfaces, practical constraints often lead to using three dots instead. When implementing ellipses in UI text:

• Preferred: Use the Unicode horizontal ellipsis character (U+2026) ”…” for three-dot ellipses
• Alternative: For the formal six-dot standard, use two U+2026 characters ”……”
• Avoid: Three separate period characters ”…” which may render inconsistently

Examples:

• "Loading..." → "加载中…" (using U+2026)
• For formal contexts: "加载中……" (using double U+2026)

Typing: In Chinese IMEs, the 6-dot ellipsis is typed using Shift+6 (in Pinyin mode); or 3-dot on macos using option+;

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” → Tiered alternatives: Replaced “secret” using a three-tier system: 内容 (content) for UI/functional contexts, 机密内容 (confidential content) for descriptive documentation, and 机密信息 (confidential information) for marketing/persuasive copy
• “secret link” → 一次性链接: Emphasizes the one-time-use property rather than secrecy
• 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
• Ellipsis handling: Use U+2026 for three-dot ellipses in UI contexts

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
• Punctuation standards: Followed Chinese ellipsis conventions while adapting for UI constraints

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.