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wtf is github-chinese?

maboloshi/github-chinese — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

24,738JavaScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TL;DR

A browser userscript that translates GitHub's interface into Simplified Chinese, making the platform accessible for Chinese-speaking developers.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((repo))
    What it does
      Translates GitHub UI
      Localizes timestamps
      Machine translates descriptions
    How it works
      Browser userscript
      Script manager required
      Pattern matching
    Installation
      Tampermonkey extension
      Violentmonkey extension
      GreasyFork distribution
    Supported browsers
      Chrome
      Firefox
      Safari
      Chromium-based
    Use cases
      Navigate GitHub in Chinese
      Read repo descriptions
      Understand interface labels

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Browse GitHub repositories and navigate menus entirely in Simplified Chinese without language barriers.

REASON 2

Read repository descriptions automatically translated to Chinese using machine translation.

REASON 3

View timestamps and dates formatted according to Chinese locale conventions while using GitHub.

What's in the stack?

JavaScriptTampermonkeyViolentmonkeyYoudao API

How it stacks up

maboloshi/github-chinesenylas/nylas-mailgoldbergyoni/javascript-testing-best-practices
Stars24,73824,76224,601
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Setup difficultyeasymoderateeasy
Complexity2/54/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min

Requires a Youdao API key for translations to work.

Use it freely, but any project you distribute that includes this code must also be GPL-licensed and open source.

Wtf does this do

GitHub Chinese (github-chinese) is a browser userscript, a small JavaScript program that runs inside your browser, that translates the GitHub website interface into Simplified Chinese. When you install it, all the menus, buttons, labels, and page titles on GitHub change to Chinese, making the platform much more accessible for Chinese speakers who find the English interface difficult to navigate. It works by using a script manager (like Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey, free browser extensions that run custom scripts on websites) and a vocabulary dictionary that maps English GitHub interface text to Chinese equivalents. The script uses pattern matching to detect which page you are on and applies the appropriate translations dynamically, even as GitHub loads new content. It can also translate repository descriptions using the Youdao machine translation engine, and it automatically localizes timestamps to match Chinese locale conventions. You would use this if you primarily read Chinese and find GitHub's English interface a barrier. It supports Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and other Chromium-based browsers. A development version (updated weekly) and a stable version (updated weekly via GreasyFork, a userscript distribution platform) are both available. The README and all documentation are written in Chinese. The project is built in JavaScript.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
How do I install this GitHub Chinese userscript in my browser using Tampermonkey?
Prompt 2
Show me how to set up github-chinese to automatically translate GitHub repository descriptions.
Prompt 3
What script managers work with github-chinese and how do I choose between them?
Prompt 4
How does github-chinese handle dynamic content that loads after the page initially opens?

Frequently asked questions

wtf is github-chinese?

A browser userscript that translates GitHub's interface into Simplified Chinese, making the platform accessible for Chinese-speaking developers.

What language is github-chinese written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey.

What license does github-chinese use?

Use it freely, but any project you distribute that includes this code must also be GPL-licensed and open source.

How hard is github-chinese to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is github-chinese for?

Mainly developer.

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