Translation Brief翻译需求说明
A translation brief is a project document that states the purpose, target audience, tone, terminology preferences, and practical constraints for a translation or localization assignment, such as file formats, deadlines, and style requirements. It is the reference point that translators, editors, and reviewers use to align decisions when the source text allows more than one acceptable rendering or when client-specific choices must override general convention.
Updated
Angel Translation editorial reference · Confirm the rendering against your source and approved project terminology.
Check source meaning → confirm the preferred term → record approved variants and references.
Where this term appears
Translation briefs are used at project kickoff for marketing campaigns, product launches, e-learning modules, or regulated content. The brief may be summarized in a style sheet or a client portal entry, and project managers distribute it to all linguists so that tone and terminology stay consistent across the entire language set.
Translation checks
The most common error is starting translation with only the source files and no brief, then guessing at register, audience, or terminology; this creates rework when the client expects a different tone. Another error is writing a brief so vague that it says only "translate into French" without explaining whether the text is for consumers, patients, developers, or regulators.
From reading to a project
A brief tells the team what the Chinese text must do
Illustrative project reference · invented files
- Files and baseline
- DEMO-PRODUCT-01 · source revision B
- Reader and use
- Chinese product readers · website content review
- Language decision
- Actual source language → agreed Chinese script
- Review and return
- Named wording reviewer · editable product text + open questions
Review status: questions to confirm
Name the reader
State who will read the Chinese text and where it will appear. “For China” alone does not define the audience or the required wording.
Separate requests from reference files
List the files to translate and mark earlier translations, terminology lists and screenshots supplied only for context.
Make the return checkable
Identify the return format and who answers source questions. Specify Chinese wording review separately from website or product publication.
Related published experience
DecathlonFrench → Chinese
French-to-Chinese translation of website product content for the China market.
The Decathlon case records French website product content translated into Chinese. It is related project experience, not evidence that this invented brief was supplied by that client.
Include your source set, intended Chinese readers, source language, Chinese script, terminology references and requested return.
Keep the term aligned across your files
Creative and consumer content needs accurate meaning as well as tone and context. Subtitles, interfaces and voice scripts also require checks for timing, character limits and pronunciation.
Provide approved terms and previous translations with the source files. Agree how variants, ambiguous wording and revisions will be reviewed. Terminology maintenance and any termbase handback are confirmed in the project scope. See the 8-step AI + expert workflow.
Working on content globalization documentation?
Include the source and target languages, file types, intended use, deadline and any approved termbase. Agree handling before sending sensitive files. Acknowledged in 4 hours, quoted in 24.
Prepare a Chinese translation brief →Content Globalization solutions →File handling →A glossary entry is not an official standard or evidence of regulatory acceptance. Confirm current requirements for your project separately.