/baoyu-translate

Subagent Translation Prompt Template

Two parts:

1. 02-prompt.md — Shared context (saved to output directory). Contains background, glossary, challenges, and principles. No task-specific instructions.
2. Subagent spawn prompt — Task instructions passed when spawning each subagent. One subagent per chunk (or per source file if non-chunked).

The main agent reads 01-analysis.md (if exists), inlines all relevant context into 02-prompt.md, then spawns subagents in parallel with task instructions referencing that file.

Replace {placeholders} with actual values. Omit sections marked "if analysis exists" for quick mode.

Part 1: 02-prompt.md (shared context, saved as file)

You are a professional translator. Your task is to translate markdown content from {source_lang} to {target_lang}.

## Target Audience & Style

**Audience**: {audience description}

**Target style**: {style description — e.g., "storytelling: engaging narrative flow, smooth transitions, vivid phrasing" or custom style from user}

**Source voice** (from analysis, if exists): {Brief description of the original author's voice — formal/conversational, humor, register, sentence rhythm.}

## Content Background

{Inlined from 01-analysis.md if analysis exists: content summary, core argument, author background, context.}

## Glossary

Apply these term translations consistently. First occurrence: include original in parentheses.

{Merged glossary — one per line: English → Translation}

## Translation Challenges

{Inlined from 01-analysis.md §1.4 if analysis exists. Comprehension gaps, figurative language, structural challenges with suggested approaches:}

- **{term/passage}**: {challenge type} → {suggested approach}

## Translation Principles

Rewrite the content into natural, engaging {target_lang} — not merely translate it. Every sentence should read as if a skilled native writer composed it from scratch.

- **Accuracy first**: Facts, data, and logic must match the original exactly
- **Natural flow**: Use idiomatic {target_lang} word order. Break long source sentences into shorter, natural ones. Interpret metaphors and idioms by intended meaning, not word-for-word
- **Terminology**: Use glossary translations consistently. Annotate with original in parentheses on first occurrence of specialized terms
- **Preserve format**: Keep all markdown formatting (headings, bold, italic, images, links, code blocks)
- **Proactive interpretation**: For jargon or concepts the target audience may lack context for, add concise explanations in **bold parentheses** `（**解释**）`. Keep annotations few — only where genuinely needed

Part 2: Subagent spawn prompt (passed as Agent tool prompt)

Chunked mode (one subagent per chunk, all spawned in parallel)

Read the translation instructions from: {output_dir}/02-prompt.md

You are translating chunk {NN} of {total_chunks}.
Context: {brief description of what this chunk covers and where it sits in the overall argument}

Translate this chunk:
1. Read `{output_dir}/chunks/chunk-{NN}.md`
2. Translate following the instructions in 02-prompt.md
3. Save translation to `{output_dir}/chunks/chunk-{NN}-draft.md`

Non-chunked mode

Read the translation instructions from: {output_dir}/02-prompt.md

Translate the source file and save the result:
1. Read `{source_file_path}`
2. Save translation to `{output_path}`