The lowest-friction way to translate a short passage in Chrome is to keep the source page visible, select only the unfamiliar word or sentence, and show the result at the reading position. This avoids the context loss caused by copying text into another tab. The limitation is that browser translation still depends on a supported language pair, ordinary selectable page text, and Chrome-managed language resources.
Choose the smallest selection that answers the reading question
If one phrase blocks comprehension, select that phrase rather than the entire paragraph. Shorter input keeps the surrounding page visible and makes it easier to compare the translation with the source. For a single ambiguous word, expand the selection to a short phrase if the first result does not fit the sentence.
Do not discard the sentence context too early
A single word can have several grammatical roles or meanings. Page language metadata, nearby text, and language detection can help, but no selection translator should be described as perfectly resolving every isolated word. The safe fallback is simple: select a few more words or choose the source language manually.
Use automatic detection as a starting point, not an obligation
Automatic source-language detection is useful when the language is obvious. It is less reliable for very short selections, borrowed words, names, mixed-language sentences, or text that uses similar scripts. A manual source language gives the browser a clearer request when detection is uncertain.
Expect first-use preparation for some language pairs
Chrome’s built-in Translator manages language resources inside the browser. The first time a source/target pair is requested, Chrome can report that the resource is downloadable or already downloading. Keep the tab open, use the visible confirmation if Chrome requires a user action, and retry after the progress finishes.
LingPeek keeps the result at the selection
LingPeek is designed for this narrow workflow. Select eligible foreign-language text, let LingPeek determine or use the chosen source language, and read the Chrome-local translation in Translate Lens around the selected position. There is no separate RANURANU translation backend, external translation API, account, or saved translation history in v0.4.0.
LingPeek is available on the Chrome Web Store. You can add LingPeek to Chrome, review the LingPeek product page, or read the setup guide before installing.
Know when LingPeek should stay quiet
A selection tool becomes distracting if it reacts to everything. LingPeek’s Smart Trigger can ignore standalone URLs, emails, numbers, prices, punctuation, file paths, hashes, long identifiers, command-only text, code-heavy selections, and text already in the target language. It also excludes input fields, text areas, code blocks, editable areas, and other elements where selection behavior is not a normal reading interaction.
Protected pages are not a translation failure
Chrome extensions cannot inject content scripts into browser-controlled or protected surfaces such as chrome:// pages and Chrome Web Store pages. Cross-origin frames, canvas-rendered text, and custom document editors can also prevent an extension from receiving an ordinary DOM text selection.
Local HTML requires explicit permission
If you open a local prototype or saved HTML document, enable file access first:
- Chrome → Extensions → Manage Extensions.
- LingPeek → Details.
- Allow access to file URLs → ON.
- Reload the local HTML page.
This permission does not mean LingPeek scans the computer. It applies to local pages the user opens and Chrome allows the extension to access.
Use these checks when no translation appears
- Confirm desktop Chrome 138 or newer.
- Check the global LingPeek toggle.
- Check the current-site toggle.
- Try an ordinary sentence on a normal webpage.
- Confirm source and target languages are different.
- Reload tabs that were open before installation or update.
- If an error code appears, use the LingPeek support reference.
Completion check
- The translation appears near the selected reading position.
- The source page remains visible and unchanged.
- Holding Alt reveals the original when that setting is enabled.
- Copy produces the visible translated text.
- No translation-history entry is created by LingPeek.
Replace the extra steps, not every translator
LingPeek is for the small translation moments that interrupt reading. It is intentionally not a full-page, PDF, OCR, subtitle, or writing-assistant suite.