My Translation Process: How I Translate Chinese BL Novels

Translating Chinese BL novels into English is a long and detailed process, especially when working as a one-person project. In this article, I want to explain exactly what my translation process is, what tools I use, and why each chapter takes time to complete.

A One-Person Project

First of all, MIRALUNEM is entirely a one-person project. Every chapter you read on this site is translated, edited, and formatted by me alone.

Because of this, the pace of updates is naturally limited. While I would love to release chapters more frequently, each one requires several stages of work to ensure it is readable and enjoyable.

At the moment, I focus on maintaining a consistent schedule of weekly updates, balancing quality with sustainability.

Working With Machine Translation (MTL)

Since I do not speak Chinese fluently, I rely on machine translation (MTL) tools as a starting point. These include services such as translation extensions for Safari and Google Translate that help convert the original Chinese text into English.

However, raw machine translation is far from perfect. It often produces:

Awkward or unnatural phrasing
Incorrect grammar
Misinterpreted sentences
Inconsistent tone
Changes in the character’s gender from one phrase to another

Because of this, MTL is only the first step in the process, not the final result.

Reading and Interpreting the Original Text

Even when using MTL, I always refer back to the original Chinese text, often translating phrase by phrase and not full blocks of text, to better understand the meaning. This helps me:

Check sentence structure
Compare the meaning across different translation outputs
Identify inconsistencies or unclear passages

By cross-referencing multiple sources, I aim to better understand the intent of the original text, even without full fluency in the language. As we all know, Chinese is a beautiful language that has a heavy accent in metaphors and hidden meanings, so translating also includes googling Chinese idioms and information for the footnotes, to better convey the author’s true meaning, rather than translating the words at face value.

Editing for Clarity and Flow

After reading the initial translation, I move into the editing phase. This is where most of the actual work happens.

I use the free version of Grammarly to assist with grammar and sentence structure, especially since English is not my first language either. However, automated tools are only part of the process.

Manual editing is essential. I sometimes take the liberty of rewriting sentence structures to:

Improve readability in English
Maintain a consistent tone
Ensure natural English flow
Clarify confusing sections

The goal is to transform a rough machine translation into something that feels smooth and coherent to read.

A Two-Step Editing Process

Each chapter goes through at least two rounds of editing:

1. Initial Editing (Patreon Version)

When preparing chapters in advance, I translate and edit them in batches. This allows me to build a buffer and provide early access chapters for supporters.

2. Final Editing (Public Release)

Before a chapter is published on the main site, I go through it again. This second pass focuses on polishing the text, fixing smaller issues like misplaced commas, and improving overall flow.

This means that the version available publicly is always refined beyond the initial draft.

Why Updates Take Time

Translation is a time-consuming process, especially when done carefully. Each chapter requires:

Reading the initial translation output
Comparing and interpreting the meaning with Google
Searching the internet for idioms, metaphors, or information to put in the footnotes
Editing for clarity and readability
Proofreading and formatting

Because everything is done by one person, it is not possible to produce large volumes of chapters quickly without sacrificing quality.

This is why updates are typically released once per week.

Supporting the Work

Every novel translated on this site is purchased individually from the original platform, JJWXC (Jinjiang Literature City). Supporting the original authors is an important part of the process.

Running this site also involves ongoing time and effort, from translation to editing and publishing.

If you enjoy the translations, any form of support, whether through donations or membership platforms, helps sustain the project and allows me to continue working on new chapters and future novels.

Final Thoughts

Translating Chinese BL novels into English is a complex and time-intensive process, especially when working with machine translation as a base.

While it may not be a perfect substitute for official translations, every chapter is carefully edited to provide a smoother and more enjoyable reading experience.

Thank you for your patience, support, and for being part of this journey.

If you like Chinese BL novels, you can read so much more on Novel Updates.