Read Japanese research papers as PDFs, side by side
Reading a Japanese paper in translation alone makes it hard to tell which term or figure in the original a sentence refers to. With Taiyaku, you read each page of the PDF next to its translation, with the layout intact.
Why read side by side
In research papers, terminology, numbers, units and citations matter. With the original next to the translation, you can check any passage against the source and spot mistranslations quickly.
Taiyaku sorts the text of two-column papers into paragraphs before translating, and lines each translation up with its original paragraph.
Option 1: the PDF translator on this site (nothing to install)
If you have the PDF file, all you need is your browser.
- Open the PDF translator and drop the paper’s PDF.
- Pages are translated as you reach them, with the translation beside each page.
- When you’re done, click “Download bilingual HTML” to save the translated pages.
The PDF is read in your browser; only the text needed for translation is sent.
Option 2: the extension’s PDF viewer (keeps figures in place)
To translate a PDF straight from a journal site or a repository, use the extension’s PDF viewer.
- Open the paper’s PDF in your browser and click “Read bilingually in Taiyaku” at the bottom right.
- Choose “Original layout” in the toolbar: each paragraph’s translation is laid over the page while figures and tables stay where they are.
- Hover a translated block to see the original paragraph.
Switch to “Side by side” to compare, or “Translation only” to read straight through.
Tips for reading papers
- Translate the abstract and conclusion first to decide whether the paper is worth a full read. On the web, turn off “Translate pages as they appear” and click “Translate this page” where you need it.
- Compare methods and results with the original; read background sections in translation only.
- Look up unfamiliar names of researchers and institutions with knowledge cards (web PDF translator, Basic and above).
- When you quote text or copy numbers, take them from the original rather than the translation.
PDFs that don’t translate well
- Scanned papers whose pages are images only can’t be translated — there is no text to read.
- Password-protected PDFs open in the extension’s PDF viewer once you enter the password.
- On the web, files can be up to 5 MB on the free plan.
Translated pages count toward your monthly PDF pages — 20 a month on the free plan — so translating only what you need saves your allowance.