Publishing for an English-first audience is not just “translation.” It’s localization: preserving meaning, tone, and intent while changing references so the reader feels like the piece was written for them. If your source material includes Chinese terms, internet slang, or culturally specific context, a naïve AI pass can flatten nuance and create compliance risk.
This briefing proposes a lightweight workflow that scales: AI for speed, humans for judgment, and a clear trail of decisions you can reuse across future posts.
The two-pass method (meaning → voice)
The fastest way to avoid robotic copy is to separate semantic accuracy from editorial voice.
Pass 1: literal meaning
Goal: get the facts correct, keep names consistent, and avoid “helpful” rewrites that change intent.
- Keep proper nouns unchanged unless you have an approved English form.
- Preserve numbers and units exactly.
- Flag ambiguous phrases instead of guessing.
Pass 2: editorial voice
Goal: make it readable for global audiences: clear subject-verb structure, explicit context, and a consistent house style.
Prompt skeleton (copy/paste)
role: 'localization editor'
audience: 'overseas English readers'
constraints:
- 'keep factual meaning; do not invent'
- 'avoid political claims; use neutral phrasing'
- 'keep product names and company names consistent'
style:
tone: 'newsroom briefing'
reading_level: 'plain English'
output:
- 'localized draft'
- 'list of risky/ambiguous lines'
- 'terminology decisions (CN term -> EN term)'Human-in-the-loop, but efficient
You don’t need a big team. You need clear responsibilities and a review artifact.
| Stage | Owner | What to check | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft | AI + editor | Meaning, structure | v1 localized draft |
| Cultural review | bilingual reviewer | Nuance, idioms, sensitive topics | inline notes |
| Legal/compliance (optional) | editor | claims, ads labeling, medical/finance wording | red flags list |
| Publish | editor | headings, links, metadata | final markdown |
The key is repeatability: each post produces a small “memory” you can reuse.
Build a tiny terminology memory
A terminology memory is just a list of decisions you commit to. It prevents the “same term translated three ways” problem that hurts trust.
What to store
- Names: people, studios, game titles, cities (CN spelling + preferred English).
- Concepts: policy terms, cultural references, subculture slang.
- UI strings: buttons, error messages, menu items.
How to use it in markdown posts
Add a small “decisions” section during editing, then remove it before publishing; or keep it as a private checklist in your repo.
Decision examples:
- 国风 -> "China-inspired" (avoid "Chinese style" in headlines)
- 内卷 -> "hyper-competition" (explain once, then reuse)Don’t let SEO fight readability
International SEO rewards clarity. Instead of stuffing awkward keywords, use:
- Descriptive H2/H3 headings (the outline becomes a navigation asset).
- Short paragraphs with one idea per paragraph.
- Internal links to tag and category archives (e.g.,
/tag/localization).
Example outline pattern
## What changed this week### Why it matters### What to watch next## Quick glossary
Quality checks (fast, high-signal)
- Every claim has a source or is framed as an opinion.
- Names and numbers match the original text.
- Headlines avoid region-only slang; subheads carry context.
- At least one short glossary block for culturally loaded terms.
- Ads are labeled as ads; sponsored copy is not mixed with editorial CTAs.
A small glossary (example)
| Term (CN) | Suggested EN | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 国风 | China-inspired | Use when discussing aesthetics, music, fashion, games. |
| 出海 | go global | Often used in startup contexts; define once per article. |
| 内卷 | hyper-competition | Avoid using it as a buzzword without explanation. |
If you combine this workflow with strong internal linking (tags + categories), you get both: fast publishing and pages that feel written for your readers, not for a machine.