ByteDance: Doubao-Seed-Translation
doubao-seed-translation- Input / Output
- $0.1765 / $0.5294
- Context
- 4K
- Max output
- 3.1K
- Modalities
- Chat
About Doubao-Seed-Translation
Doubao-Seed-Translation is ByteDance Volcano Engine's dedicated translation model, launched in September 2025. Unlike a general chat model, it does one job: translating text from a source language into a target language. It suits product localisation, customer messages and short document passages. It handles short inputs and outputs, supports no tools, and is not meant for conversation.
Where it works well
- Purpose-built for translation, so the request names languages rather than describing a task in prose.
- ByteDance says it can detect the source language automatically when you specify only the target language.
- Aimed at varied text such as office documents, technical and medical material, internet slang and classical Chinese, according to the launch description.
- A narrow model gives predictable, translation-only output without chatty preamble.
- Fits localisation pipelines that translate many short strings.
When to choose another model
- Input and output are short, so long documents have to be split into passages before translating.
- It does not chat, call tools, read images or produce structured output; use a general model for anything beyond translation.
- It is not a real-time speech translator; for live audio use a dedicated live-translation model.
Getting started
Create API key
Create a key in Console, then use it with every model on the platform.
Send your first request
Copy the example for your language and run it against the endpoint.
TranslationTokenLab endpointPOST/v1/translationscurl -X POST "https://api.tokenlab.sh/v1/translations" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-xxx" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "source_language": "auto", "target_language": "en", "model": "doubao-seed-translation", "text": "你好，欢迎使用 TokenLab。" }'
Parameters
Translation
| Parameter | Values and limits | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
source_language | Not provided | Not provided | Not provided |
target_language | Not provided | Not provided | Not provided |
text | Not provided | Not provided | Not provided |
Use the dedicated text translation endpoint; this model does not accept Chat Completions or Responses requests.
Pricing
The Verified price applies to Verified, which costs less on most models. The Official price is the model maker's published price and applies to the more reliable Official route. Auto bills the route that completes the request.
Pricing
per 1M tokens- Verified price
- —
- Official price
- Input$0.1765per 1M tokensOutput$0.5294per 1M tokens
| Official priceper 1M tokens | Verified priceper 1M tokens | Discount | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Input | $0.1765 | — | — |
| Output | $0.5294 | — | — |
Usage & activity
Success rate is the share of requests that completed. Latency is how long a full response takes; P95 means 95% of requests finished within that time.
Usage & availability
Last 24 hours- Requests
- Success rate
- P95 latency
- Total tokens
Data is based on aggregate user requests, excluding status checks.
Open in Console
Open Doubao-Seed-Translation in Console with a prompt ready to edit or send.
Help me try doubao-seed-translation with translation at /v1/translations. Show the result and cost.
Use cases
App localisation
Translate UI strings and release notes into several languages in a batch job.
Customer message translation
Render incoming tickets and chat messages into your support team's language and replies back.
Short document passages
Translate paragraphs from contracts, manuals or articles, splitting longer files into passages first.
Content moderation prep
Convert foreign-language posts to one language so a single review team can read them.
Prompt examples
Translate to English: "这款耳机支持主动降噪，续航约三十小时，适合通勤使用。" Keep it concise.
Translate this product description into German, keeping the brand name unchanged and the tone friendly.
Translate to Japanese, auto-detecting the source language: "Your order has shipped and will arrive on Friday."
Cost calculator
FAQ
What exactly is Doubao-Seed-Translation?
It is ByteDance's specialised translation model, released through Volcano Engine in September 2025. It translates between a source and a target language and is not a general chat model.
Do I need to say which language the text is in?
No. ByteDance states the model can detect the source language, so you may specify only the target. You can still name both when the text is ambiguous or mixed.
How long a text can it translate?
Only short passages per call, so split long documents by paragraph or section. The page shows the current limits. Keep sentences intact when splitting so context is not lost.
Can it handle slang and specialist text?
ByteDance highlights office documents, technical and medical content, internet slang and classical Chinese as target scenes. Verify domain terms in your own glossary before publishing legal or medical material.
When should I use a chat model instead?
Use a chat model when you need tone adaptation, explanation of choices, whole-document context, or output in a fixed schema. Use this model for plain, fast, high-volume translation.
How much does Doubao-Seed-Translation cost?
On TokenLab, Doubao-Seed-Translation costs Input $0.1765 / Output $0.5294 per 1M tokens. The pricing table above shows the full breakdown.
Which endpoint should Doubao-Seed-Translation use?
Use https://api.tokenlab.sh/v1/translations for Doubao-Seed-Translation. The request example below shows the matching code shape.
Which operations does Doubao-Seed-Translation support?
Doubao-Seed-Translation supports Translation. Select an operation above to see its endpoint and request example.
Sources
Reviewed Oct 2, 2026
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