Cross-language search: questions and answers
Practical answers about translating a query before searching.
What is cross-language search?
It means searching for information with a query in another language. For example, translate a Chinese technical question into English before searching Google or Bing. Results depend on the search engine; English wording does not guarantee English-only results.
How do I translate a Google or Bing search query?
Enter the query in the online tool, choose a target language and engine, translate it, review or edit the translation, and click Search translated query. You can also compare by searching the original.
Does this translate the entire results page?
No. Translate & Search translates the search query. It opens the chosen search engine for that query and does not embed, scrape, or translate the whole results page.
Do I need an account, and is my search history saved?
No account is required. This website keeps the current input in the page only and does not save a search-history database. Google processes translation queries and the chosen engine processes searches under its own policies. The hosting service may keep access logs.
What is different about the app and extension?
The web tool translates queries you enter here. The Safari and Chromium extension can translate a query from a supported search results page, automatically or manually. The companion Apple app helps enable the Safari extension. The app and extension are currently in development and have not officially launched.
How can I improve technical query translations?
Keep API names, product names, model numbers, and error messages unchanged when appropriate. Review the translation before searching. Try concise keywords and compare the original and translated queries; machine translation does not guarantee better results.
What if translation fails?
Retry later, search the original query, or enter your own translation in the editable preview. The web tool currently uses Google’s web translation endpoint, which can be unavailable or change without notice.