Word selection translation (also called hover translation or instant translation) is one of Youdao Translate's most-used power features. Instead of copying text and pasting it into a translation window, you simply select any text on your screen and a translation popup appears instantly — in any application, whether it's a web browser, Word document, PDF reader, or Slack.
This guide walks you through enabling this feature on the desktop client, configuring the trigger method, and setting up the browser extension version.
Desktop App Setup (Windows / Mac)
Step 1: Install the Desktop Client
The word selection translation feature requires the Youdao Translate desktop app. The web version (fanyi.youdao.com) doesn't support system-wide selection translation.
Step 2: Enable the Feature
Open Youdao Settings
Right-click the system tray icon and choose "Settings", or click the gear icon in the main window
Find Word Selection Settings
In the left menu, select "Translation Settings" → look for "Word Selection Translation" or "Instant Translation" toggle
Turn On and Pick Trigger Mode
Enable the switch, then choose your preferred trigger: hover, auto-on-select, or Ctrl+C shortcut
Start Using It
Select text in any app — the translation popup appears. Press ESC or click elsewhere to dismiss it
Trigger Modes Compared
- Hover trigger: Mouse hovers over selected text for 1–2 seconds → popup appears. Best for reading long articles at a steady pace.
- Auto on selection: Popup appears instantly when you select any text. Highest efficiency but can feel intrusive.
- Ctrl+C shortcut: Select text, then press Ctrl+C to trigger. Combines copying and translating — great for document work.
- Double-click word: Double-click a single word for quick lookup. Good for vocabulary checks.
Recommended Trigger Configurations
- Reading articles / web pages → "Hover trigger" (less intrusive)
- Quick word lookups → "Double-click" mode
- Working with documents → "Ctrl+C trigger" (translates and copies simultaneously)
- Gaming / full-screen apps → Temporarily disable to avoid conflicts
Browser Extension Setup
If you primarily read foreign-language content in a browser, the Youdao Translate browser extension provides the same hover-translation experience without needing the desktop client installed.
Supported Browsers
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
Installation Steps
- Search for "Youdao Translate" in the Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons, or Firefox Add-ons marketplace
- Click "Add to Chrome" (or the equivalent) and confirm the installation
- After installing, click the extension icon → open "Settings"
- Under "Word Selection Translation": configure your trigger mode, popup position, and display language
- Optional: set per-site rules — enable only on specific domains, or add sites to a blocklist
Browser Extension vs. Desktop Client: Key Difference
The browser extension only works within the browser. The desktop client's word selection translation works everywhere on your system — including Word, Outlook, PDF readers, Slack, and any other desktop application. If you need system-wide translation, install the desktop client.
Advanced Tips
1. Set a Custom Toggle Shortcut
In Settings → Shortcuts, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to quickly enable/disable word selection translation without opening the settings. A common choice is Alt+Y. This is useful for temporarily turning it off during meetings or focused writing sessions.
2. Customize the Popup Content
The popup shows a translation by default, but you can configure it to also display: a pronunciation (TTS) button, part-of-speech information, related phrases, and a one-click "Add to word list" button for vocabulary building.
3. Set Translation Direction
By default, Youdao auto-detects the source language and translates to Chinese. You can change this in settings to translate to English, or enable "Smart detection" mode: Chinese → English, all other languages → Chinese.
4. Exclude Specific Applications
For apps where you don't want the popup (code editors, messaging apps), add them to the "Exclusion list" in settings. This prevents translation popups from appearing in those windows, while keeping the feature active everywhere else.