A translation carries more than the literal meaning of a sentence. A pause, a repeated phrase or a change of register can reveal how a character sees another person. Preserving those choices begins with noticing them.
Read a passage once for events, then again for voice. Ask what is explicit, what is implied and where an explanation would interrupt the scene. A brief translator’s note may help with context, but it need not replace the reader’s own interpretation.
The original author and translator make different contributions. Keeping those credits visible helps readers understand where a work began and who brought this version to them.