How to Auto-Translate LINE Group Chats | Free LINE Interpreter vs. Multilingual Translation Bots

The Short Answer: Which Option Is Right for You?

Before diving into the details, here's a quick way to decide.

The free LINE Interpreter works well if you...

• Only need one language pair (e.g., Japanese to English)
• Want to test things out without spending anything
• Care more about getting the gist than perfect translations

A multilingual translation bot (like KOTORI) is the better fit if you...

• Have three or more languages in the same group
• Need conversations to flow naturally for travel groups, international students, or multilingual teams
• Cannot afford the time it takes to copy-paste every message into a separate translation app

Three Ways to Translate in LINE Groups

1) Copy and paste into a translation app (manual)

The simplest approach, but also the most tedious. Copy a message, switch to Google Translate, paste it, copy the result, switch back to LINE, paste again - and by the time you're done, the conversation has moved on without you.

2) Add the free LINE Interpreter to your group (semi-automatic)

LINE offers official translation bots you can invite to a group. They're quick to set up, but come with some notable limitations.

3) Add a translation bot to your group (fully automatic)

A dedicated translation bot translates messages in real time within the group chat. This is where things get interesting for groups that deal with multiple languages or need reliable day-to-day communication.

Option 1: Using the Free LINE Interpreter

The LINE Interpreter is an official bot provided by LINE. Getting started takes just three steps:

1. Add the Interpreter bot as a friend
2. Invite it to the group you want to translate
3. The bot automatically translates messages sent in the group

Supported languages - check before you start

The LINE Interpreter primarily supports English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), and Korean. If those cover your needs, it is a perfectly reasonable place to start.

However, if your group includes speakers of Vietnamese, Tagalog, Portuguese, Thai, or other languages, the LINE Interpreter will not be enough on its own.

The hidden catch: only one official account per group

This is the limitation that catches most people off guard.

LINE's system does not allow multiple official accounts in a single group chat. If your group already has an official account, such as a business bot or a scheduling service, you may not be able to add the translation bot without removing the existing one first.

It is worth checking with your group members before making the switch, especially if the existing official account serves an important purpose.

Option 2: Using KOTORI, a Multilingual Translation Bot

KOTORI is a translation bot designed specifically for LINE groups. Invite it, and it starts translating. No app switching, no copy-pasting, no extra steps. You just keep chatting the way you always do.

Setup (under a minute)

1. Add KOTORI as a friend
2. Invite it to your LINE group
3. Start chatting and translations appear automatically

What makes KOTORI different

• Context-aware translations: KOTORI considers the surrounding conversation, not just individual messages, so translations read more naturally
• Automatic language detection: Even when Japanese and English or other languages are mixed in the same group, KOTORI identifies each message and translates accordingly
• Built for group use: Designed for real-world scenarios including international student groups, travel planning chats, and workplace communication with multilingual staff

Add KOTORI and invite it to your group.

KOTORI Pricing

KOTORI offers three tiers - Free, Standard, and Pro - so you can start at zero cost and scale up as needed.

• Annual plans save 17% (translation limits reset monthly)
• Plans are applied per LINE group, not per user

Start with the Free plan.

5 Tips to Make Auto-Translation Actually Work

Adding a translation bot is only half the equation. How you write your messages makes a huge difference in translation quality. A few small habits can dramatically improve results.

1. One message, one topic.
2. Add English alongside proper nouns. For example, write Shibuya after the Japanese place name.
3. Keep important announcements short and structured. Bullet points and simple sentences translate more accurately.
4. For schedule changes, state only what changed and the deadline.
5. When in doubt, ask yes-or-no questions.