Quick Start Guide for New Translators
TeaNovel helps you read Chinese web novels in English using AI translation. Import novels from supported Chinese platforms, translate chapters, and read them in a clean, customizable reader.
TL;DR — Sign up → install Chrome extension → paste a JJWXC or Qidian URL into the SmartImporter → translate → read. Takes about 5 minutes.
What you'll need
Before you start, make sure you have:
- A TeaNovel account. Sign up at read.teanovel.com with your email, Google, Discord, or Twitter/X
- Google Chrome — The browser extension only works in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Arc)
Step 1: Create your account
Go to read.teanovel.com and sign up. You can use:
- Email and password
- Google account
- Discord account
- Twitter/X account
Free accounts include 1,000 translation credits per month, enough for several chapters depending on length.
Step 2: Install the Chrome extension
The TeaNovel extension scrapes novel content from source sites. You need it to import novels.
- Open the TeaNovel extension page on the Chrome Web Store
- Click Add to Chrome
- Confirm the installation
The extension runs in the background. You will not see a popup interface. It activates automatically when you import novels through the web app.
For detailed installation help, see Use the Extension.
Step 3: Import your first novel
- Find a novel on a supported site (see Finding Sources)
- Copy the novel's URL from your browser address bar
- Go to your TeaNovel dashboard
- Paste the URL into the SmartImporter input box
- Click Import
The extension scrapes the novel's metadata and chapter list. Within seconds, the novel appears in your dashboard.
For the full import workflow, see Translate with URL.
Step 4: Translate a chapter
- Click on your imported novel to open it
- Select a chapter from the list
- Click the Translate button
- Watch the translation stream in real-time
Translation uses AI with streaming, so text appears as it's generated. Credits are deducted only after the translation completes successfully.
Step 5: Read in the reader
After translation, you're taken directly to the reader. From here you can:
- Navigate chapters using the arrow buttons
- Customize appearance (via the settings panel: font size, line height, width, theme)
- Give feedback on translations using the feedback button or like/dislike vote
Your reading progress syncs across devices automatically.
For more reader features, see Reader Basics.
Next steps
- Batch translate multiple chapters — Available on Starter and Pro plans. See Batch Translation.
- Review terminology — Browse extracted names and terms as they appear. See Terminology Basics.
- Export your translations — Pro users can export to TXT or EPUB. See Export TXT/EPUB.