- name
- sci-translation-polish
- description
- Convert Chinese academic papers to native-level publication-ready English. Supports Nature/IEEE/ACM/APA styles. Uses a three-layer decoupling method (semantic extraction → logical restructuring → native writing) to eliminate translationese. Use this skill whenever the user mentions academic paper translation, SCI paper writing, journal submission, research paper polishing, or needs to convert Chinese academic content to English for international publication, even if they don't explicitly ask for 'translation' or 'polishing'.
SCI Translation Polish
Core Philosophy
Not translation — cross-language academic writing. Forget the form of the source text, preserve only the meaning. Think in English, write in English.
I. Three-Layer Decoupling Principle
Translation fails when three things are mixed together. They must be separated:
Layer 1: Extract Semantic Core
- Remove all Chinese rhetoric, idioms, parallelism
- Keep only the core meaning
- Ask yourself: What is this sentence actually saying?
Layer 2: Restructure Argumentation Logic
- Chinese academic: Inductive (background → phenomenon → analysis → conclusion)
- English academic: Deductive (thesis → evidence → explanation → transitions)
- Reorganize paragraphs using PEEL structure
Layer 3: Native English Writing
- Pretend you are the author, not a translator
- Write using familiar English expressions
- Do NOT look back at the Chinese original
II. Terminology Strategy (4-Level Framework)
Level 1: Standard Translation Exists
Use it directly. No innovation needed. Example: 素质教育 → quality-oriented education
Level 2: Approximate Concept Exists
Borrow the English term, add parenthetical explanation on first use. Example: 民办高校 → private higher education institutions (PHEIs)
Level 3: No Corresponding Concept
Coin a term + provide a definition. Example: 治理结构虚化 → governance structure hollowing-out Or use descriptive phrase: the nominal governance structure
Level 4: Culture-Specific Concepts
Keep pinyin + explanation. Example: danwei system（单位制）
Key principle: Consistency over perfection. Use the same translation throughout the entire paper.
III. Style Adaptation by Journal Type
Nature/Science Family
- Active voice preferred
- Short, direct sentences
- Results-first structure
- Minimal hedging
IEEE/ACM (Engineering/CS)
- Passive voice acceptable
- Method-heavy descriptions
- Formal, precise terminology
- Numbered references
APA (Social Sciences)
- APA citation style
- Hedges on interpretations
- Theory-first structure
- 12-point Times New Roman
General Academic
- PEEL paragraph structure: Point → Evidence → Explanation → Link
- Avoid: "In this paper, we propose..."
- Prefer: "This paper proposes..." or lead with findings
IV. Common Translationese Patterns to Avoid
| Chinese Pattern | ❌ Translationese | ✅ Native English |
|---|---|---|
| 本文 | this paper | this study / we |
| 大量 | a large number of | numerous / extensive |
| 重要 | important | crucial / significant / key |
| 通过 | through | via / by / using |
| 取得 | achieve | demonstrate / show |
| 研究表明 | research shows | evidence suggests / findings indicate |
| 非常 | very | highly / markedly / substantially |
V. Execution Workflow
Follow this exact sequence for every translation project:
Step 1: Pre-Processing Analysis (5 min)
Before touching any text:
- Identify journal type → Ask user: "Which journal are you targeting?" (Nature/IEEE/ACM/APA/General)
- Create terminology table → List key Chinese terms and their English equivalents
- Flag culture-specific concepts → Mark terms that need pinyin or explanation
Output: A terminology reference sheet for consistent use throughout.
Step 2: Semantic Extraction (The "What")
For each paragraph:
- Read the Chinese text once
- Ask: "What is this paragraph actually saying?"
- Write bullet points of the core ideas (in Chinese or simple English)
- Discard all Chinese rhetoric, idioms, parallelism, flowery language
Output: Bullet points of key ideas, no Chinese structure remaining.
Example:
Original: 本研究采用实验方法，通过对比分析，深入探讨了不同因素对结果的影响...
Extracted: We tested how different factors affect the outcome.Step 3: Logical Restructuring (The "How")
Reorganize the extracted ideas:
- Apply PEEL structure to each paragraph:
- Point: Main argument (1 sentence) - Evidence: Data/examples (2-3 sentences) - Explanation: Why this matters (1-2 sentences) - Link: Connect to next point (1 sentence)
- Convert Chinese inductive logic → English deductive logic:
- Chinese: Background → Phenomenon → Analysis → Conclusion - English: Thesis → Evidence → Explanation → Transitions
Output: Structured outline with PEEL-labeled sections.
Step 4: Native English Writing (The "Now")
Critical rule: Do NOT look at the Chinese original during this step.
- Write from the structured outline only
- Use the terminology table for consistency
- Apply journal-specific conventions:
- Nature: Active voice, short sentences, results-first - IEEE: Passive acceptable, method-heavy, formal - APA: APA citations, hedged interpretations, theory-first
- Write as if you are the author, not a translator
Output: First draft in native-level English.
Step 5: Quality Verification (The Check)
Run through this checklist:
Translationese Check:
- [ ] No "this paper" → use "this study" or "we"
- [ ] No "a large number of" → use "numerous" or "extensive"
- [ ] No "through" when "via/by/using" fits better
- [ ] No "research shows" → use "evidence suggests"
Structure Check:
- [ ] Sentences average 15-25 words (break up 40+ word sentences)
- [ ] Each paragraph has one clear main point
- [ ] Transitions connect paragraphs smoothly
- [ ] Terminology is consistent throughout
Journal-Specific Check:
- [ ] Citation style matches target journal
- [ ] Voice (active/passive) matches convention
- [ ] Format matches submission guidelines
Step 6: Final Polish
- Read the English text aloud — does it flow naturally?
- Trim unnecessary words — can you remove 10% without losing meaning?
- Strengthen verbs — replace weak verbs with precise ones
- Final terminology consistency check
Output: Publication-ready English manuscript.
VI. Quick Reference Card
When in doubt, remember these principles:
| Situation | Do This |
|---|---|
| Encountering a Chinese idiom | Extract the meaning, discard the form |
| Term has no English equivalent | Coin a term + define it on first use |
| Paragraph feels "Chinese" | Apply PEEL, lead with the point |
| Sentence exceeds 35 words | Break into two |
| Unsure about voice | Check target journal guidelines |
| Tempted to look at Chinese | Don't — work from extracted outline |
VII. Quality Checklist
After writing, verify:
- [ ] No Chinese-specific idioms remain
- [ ] Sentences average 15-25 words (not 40+)
- [ ] Each paragraph has one clear main point
- [ ] Transitions connect ideas between paragraphs
- [ ] Terminology is consistent throughout
- [ ] Citation style matches target journal
- [ ] Passive/active voice matches journal convention
- [ ] No Chinglish patterns: "make + noun", "pay attention to"
VI. When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
- Preparing Chinese research papers for international publication
- Translating thesis/dissertation to English
- Polishing manuscript for journal submission
- Writing abstract/conclusion following English academic conventions
Trigger phrases:
- "translate this paper to English"
- "polish my academic writing"
- "make this publication-ready"
- "convert to Nature/IEEE/APA style"