diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aa8ef7d..52c155e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ For local development, build the ISO from sibling checkouts:
 
 Despite the local folder name, the first argument is the Omarchy source checkout (runtime commands, configs, setup scripts, themes, shell, migrations). The installer itself lives in this ISO repo.
 
+The configurator asks for the language on its first screen: English or Simplified Chinese. Chinese reruns the installer in cage + foot, a console that draws Chinese, with Noto Sans Mono CJK unpacked from the offline mirror's `noto-fonts-cjk`. It opens on the keyboard screen, offers only keyboards with a US keymap (cage keeps a US layout) and preselects Chinese (Simplified, Pinyin); every later screen and the install progress read in Chinese. Esc there goes back to a bilingual language screen, where English returns to the VT, which applies the chosen keymap. Without a working display or the font, Chinese continues in English on the VT. Either way a Chinese install sets the target's `LANG` to `zh_CN.UTF-8` through archinstall's `locale_config`. The language never decides the region: that follows the timezone. The Chinese text lives in `OMARCHY_ZH` tables beside the English it replaces.
+
 Use `--dev` or `--rc` to build against those package channels. Both `--dev` and `--edge` select the dev packages from the edge mirror.
 
 ## Autoinstall
diff --git a/bin/omarchy-iso-test b/bin/omarchy-iso-test
index 7824473..0f95b2d 100755
--- a/bin/omarchy-iso-test
+++ b/bin/omarchy-iso-test
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #                      or Chinese (Simplified, Pinyin)/(Traditional, Zhuyin).
 #                      OMARCHY_PATH must be the source tree used to build the ISO.
 #   --encrypt          Drive the encrypted install flow (default: unencrypted)
+#   --language LANG    Pick en (default) or zh; zh keeps the preselected Pinyin keyboard
 #   --provision              Drive the deferred-provisioning install flow: no user during install, the
 #                      first boot runs omarchy-provision-owner and creates it there
 #   --reuse-base       Skip the install phase if a base image already exists
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ MEMORY=8192
 INSTALL_TIMEOUT=2400
 BOOT_TIMEOUT=600
 ENCRYPT=false
+INSTALL_LANGUAGE=en
 PROVISION=false
 REUSE_BASE=false
 INSTALL_ONLY=false
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ while (($#)); do
   case "$1" in
     --keyboard) KEYBOARD_LABEL="$2"; shift ;;
     --encrypt) ENCRYPT=true ;;
+    --language) INSTALL_LANGUAGE="$2"; shift ;;
     --provision) PROVISION=true ;;
     --reuse-base) REUSE_BASE=true ;;
     --install-only) INSTALL_ONLY=true ;;
@@ -89,12 +92,32 @@ if [[ ! -f ${ISO:-} ]]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
+if [[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE != "en" && $INSTALL_LANGUAGE != "zh" ]]; then
+  echo "--language must be en or zh, not $INSTALL_LANGUAGE" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+if [[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE == "zh" && $KEYBOARD_LABEL != "English (US)" ]]; then
+  echo "--language zh takes the preselected Pinyin keyboard; drop --keyboard" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
 case "$KEYBOARD_LABEL" in
   "English (US)" | "English (UK)" | "Japanese" | "Japanese (US keyboard)" | "Korean" | "Chinese (Simplified, Pinyin)" | "Chinese (Traditional, Zhuyin)") ;;
   *) echo "The VM harness cannot type credentials with keyboard: $KEYBOARD_LABEL" >&2; exit 1 ;;
 esac
 
-omarchy-pkg-add qemu-full edk2-ovmf socat imagemagick tesseract tesseract-data-eng
+omarchy-pkg-add qemu-full edk2-ovmf socat imagemagick tesseract tesseract-data-eng tesseract-data-chi_sim
+
+# After the language screen a Chinese install reads in Chinese.
+OCR_LANGS=eng
+[[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE == "zh" ]] && OCR_LANGS=eng+chi_sim
+# lang_text <english> <chinese> picks the text a screen shows in this run.
+lang_text() {
+  if [[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE == "zh" ]]; then
+    printf '%s' "$2"
+  else
+    printf '%s' "$1"
+  fi
+}
 
 OVMF_CODE="/usr/share/edk2/x64/OVMF_CODE.4m.fd"
 OVMF_VARS_TEMPLATE="/usr/share/edk2/x64/OVMF_VARS.4m.fd"
@@ -104,6 +127,7 @@ if [[ $KEYBOARD_LABEL != "English (US)" ]]; then
   BASE_NAME+="-$(printf '%s' "$KEYBOARD_LABEL" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | sed 's/[^a-z0-9]/-/g')"
 fi
 $ENCRYPT && BASE_NAME+="-encrypted"
+[[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE == "zh" ]] && BASE_NAME+="-zh"
 $PROVISION && BASE_NAME+="-provision"
 BASE_DIR="$REPO_DIR/test-runs/$BASE_NAME"
 RUN_DIR="$BASE_DIR/runs/$(date +%Y%m%d-%H%M%S)"
@@ -253,7 +277,13 @@ ocr_screen() {
   screendump "$shot"
   [[ -s $shot ]] || return 0
   magick "$shot" -colorspace gray -negate -resize 150% "$prepped" 2>/dev/null || return 0
-  tesseract "$prepped" - --psm 6 2>/dev/null || true
+  # The logo throws tesseract off CJK, so Chinese runs also read below it, without spaces.
+  if [[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE == "zh" ]]; then
+    magick "$shot" -gravity north -chop 0x35% -colorspace gray -negate -resize 150% "$prepped.text.png" 2>/dev/null || return 0
+    { tesseract "$prepped" - --psm 6 -l "$OCR_LANGS"; tesseract "$prepped.text.png" - --psm 6 -l "$OCR_LANGS"; } 2>/dev/null | sed 'p; s/ //g' || true
+  else
+    tesseract "$prepped" - --psm 6 -l "$OCR_LANGS" 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
 }
 
 # Wait until the console shows the given text. Saves the offending screen as
@@ -660,23 +690,28 @@ drive_configurator() {
   capture_console "success-installer-00-greeter"
   press ret
 
-  # Keyboard is the first screen. Ctrl+C there is the hidden entry into deferred provisioning
-  # mode; a normal install just selects the layout.
-  wait_for_screen "keyboard layout" 300
+  # Language comes first: English on top, Chinese below.
+  wait_for_screen "Select language" 300
+  capture_console "success-installer-01-language"
+  if [[ $INSTALL_LANGUAGE == "zh" ]]; then press end; else press home; fi
+  press ret
+
+  # The keyboard follows, for Chinese in cage + foot; Ctrl+C there defers provisioning.
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "keyboard layout" "键盘布局")" 300
   capture_console "success-installer-01-keyboard-layout"
 
   if $PROVISION; then
     press ctrl-c # arm "prepare for another owner"
-    wait_for_screen "another owner" 30
+    wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "another owner" "另一位")" 30
     capture_console "success-installer-02-prepare-confirm"
     press ret # "Yes, prepare for another owner" is the affirmative default
 
     # Jumps straight to disk selection, then the overwrite confirm.
-    wait_for_screen "install disk" 60
+    wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "install disk" "安装磁盘")" 60
     capture_console "success-installer-03-prepare-install-disk"
     press ret
 
-    wait_for_screen "recovery possible" 60
+    wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "recovery possible" "无法恢复")" 60
     capture_console "success-installer-04-prepare-disk-warning-encrypted"
     if ! $ENCRYPT; then
       press ctrl-c
@@ -700,27 +735,27 @@ drive_configurator() {
   press ret
 
   # Normal flow: user step comes before disk selection.
-  wait_for_screen "Username" 120
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Username" "用户名")" 120
   type_text "$GUEST_USER"
   capture_console "success-installer-02-username"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "Password" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Password" "密码")" 60
   type_text "$GUEST_PASSWORD"
   capture_console "success-installer-03-password"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "Must match" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Must match" "确认")" 60
   type_text "$GUEST_PASSWORD"
   capture_console "success-installer-04-password-confirmation"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "Full name" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Full name" "姓名")" 60
   type_text "Omarchy Test"
   capture_console "success-installer-05-full-name"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "Email address" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Email address" "邮箱")" 60
   type_text "test"
   if [[ $KEYBOARD_LABEL == "Japanese" ]]; then
     press bracket_left
@@ -733,30 +768,30 @@ drive_configurator() {
   capture_console "success-installer-06-email"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "Hostname" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Hostname" "主机名")" 60
   type_text "$GUEST_HOSTNAME"
   capture_console "success-installer-07-hostname"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "Timezone" 180 # tzupdate geo-guess can take a moment
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "Timezone" "时区")" 180 # tzupdate geo-guess can take a moment
   capture_console "success-installer-08-timezone"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "look right" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "look right" "正确")" 60
   capture_console "success-installer-09-review"
   press ret
 
-  wait_for_screen "install disk" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "install disk" "安装磁盘")" 60
   capture_console "success-installer-10-install-disk"
   press ret # the single virtio disk
 
-  wait_for_screen "installation mode\|recovery possible" 60
-  if ocr_screen | grep -qi "installation mode"; then
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "installation mode\|recovery possible" "安装方式\|无法恢复")" 60
+  if ocr_screen | grep -qi "$(lang_text "installation mode" "安装方式")"; then
     capture_console "success-installer-11-install-mode"
     press ret # "Full disk install" is preselected
   fi
 
-  wait_for_screen "recovery possible" 60
+  wait_for_screen "$(lang_text "recovery possible" "无法恢复")" 60
   capture_console "success-installer-12-disk-warning-encrypted"
   if ! $ENCRYPT; then
     press ctrl-c # toggles the confirm to the unencrypted flow
@@ -860,7 +895,8 @@ wait_for_install() {
   while true; do
     text=$(ocr_screen)
 
-    if grep -qi "Reboot Now" <<<"$text"; then
+    # OCR cannot read the Chinese reboot button, so Chinese runs match the title above it.
+    if grep -qi "$(lang_text "Reboot Now" "安装完成")" <<<"$text"; then
       log "Install finished. Confirming the reboot prompt."
       capture_console "success-installer-15-reboot"
       press ret
@@ -876,7 +912,7 @@ wait_for_install() {
       return 0
     fi
 
-    if grep -qi "installation stopped" <<<"$text"; then
+    if grep -qi "$(lang_text "installation stopped" "安装已停止")" <<<"$text"; then
       capture_console "failure-installer-installation-stopped"
       echo "Install failed — screenshot saved to $RUN_DIR" >&2
       return 1
diff --git a/builder/build-iso.sh b/builder/build-iso.sh
index de1f7f1..a492fcf 100755
--- a/builder/build-iso.sh
+++ b/builder/build-iso.sh
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ cp "/tmp/$NODE_FILENAME" "$build_cache_dir/airootfs/opt/packages/"
 # The selected omarchy-settings package is needed here so its post_install hook
 # drops Omarchy's plymouthd.conf into /etc/plymouth before mkarchiso builds the
 # live initramfs.
-arch_packages=(linux-t2 git gum jq openssl plymouth ttfx tzupdate omarchy-keyring "$OMARCHY_SETTINGS_PACKAGE" lvm2 cryptsetup parted)
+# cage and foot give Chinese installs a console that draws Chinese.
+arch_packages=(linux-t2 git gum jq openssl plymouth ttfx tzupdate omarchy-keyring "$OMARCHY_SETTINGS_PACKAGE" lvm2 cryptsetup parted cage foot)
 printf '%s\n' "${arch_packages[@]}" >> "$build_cache_dir/packages.x86_64"
 
 # The live ISO boots linux-t2 (see airootfs/etc/mkinitcpio.d/linux-t2.preset), so
diff --git a/configs/airootfs/root/.automated_script.sh b/configs/airootfs/root/.automated_script.sh
index 16904f8..90d1ad3 100644
--- a/configs/airootfs/root/.automated_script.sh
+++ b/configs/airootfs/root/.automated_script.sh
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@
 #   - COLUMNS/LINES so gum picks up real terminal size
 set -euo pipefail
 
-[[ $(tty) == /dev/tty1 ]] || exit 0
+[[ $(tty) == /dev/tty1 || -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]] || exit 0
+if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]]; then
+  touch "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/cjk-console-started"
+fi
 
 export OMARCHY_MIRROR="$(cat /root/omarchy_mirror)"
 if [[ -f /root/omarchy_iso_ref ]]; then
@@ -39,7 +42,8 @@ set_tokyo_night_colors() {
   echo -en "\033[0m"
   clear
 }
-set_tokyo_night_colors
+# foot sets the same palette from foot.ini; these escapes are VT-only.
+[[ -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]] || set_tokyo_night_colors
 
 mkdir -p /var/log
 touch "$OMARCHY_INSTALL_LOG_FILE"
@@ -90,6 +94,16 @@ warm_offline_mirror &
 warm_pid=$!
 trap 'kill "$warm_pid" 2>/dev/null' EXIT
 
+# The CJK console's font comes from the offline mirror's noto-fonts-cjk, not the live image.
+unpack_cjk_font() {
+  local packages=(/var/cache/omarchy/mirror/offline/noto-fonts-cjk-*.pkg.tar.zst)
+  if ((${#packages[@]} != 1)) || [[ ! -f ${packages[0]} ]]; then
+    echo "Expected one noto-fonts-cjk package in the offline mirror, found: ${packages[*]}" >&2
+    return 1
+  fi
+  bsdtar -xf "${packages[0]}" -C / usr/share/fonts/noto-cjk/NotoSansCJK-Regular.ttc
+}
+
 cd /root
 # Autoinstall: a cidata drive carrying the configurator's own output files
 # stands in for the wizard. omarchy-cidata-load copies them into /root and
@@ -98,7 +112,43 @@ if /usr/local/bin/omarchy-cidata-load; then
   echo "Autoinstall configuration found on cidata drive; skipping the configurator."
   export OMARCHY_UI_INTERACTIVE=no
 else
-  ./configurator
+  # Chinese moves to cage + foot, which draw Chinese; English moves back to the VT, which applies keymaps.
+  cjk_relaunch=10
+  vt_return=11
+  if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]]; then
+    export OMARCHY_VT_RETURN=$vt_return
+  elif command -v cage >/dev/null; then
+    export OMARCHY_CJK_RELAUNCH=$cjk_relaunch
+  fi
+  ./configurator && status=0 || status=$?
+  while ((status == cjk_relaunch)); do
+    cjk_runtime=/run/omarchy-cjk-console
+    mkdir -p -m 700 "$cjk_runtime"
+    rm -f "$cjk_runtime/cjk-console-started" "$cjk_runtime/return-to-vt"
+    if ! unpack_cjk_font; then
+      echo "The Chinese font could not be unpacked from the offline mirror; continuing in English."
+      unset OMARCHY_CJK_RELAUNCH
+      OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANGUAGE=zh ./configurator && status=0 || status=$?
+      continue
+    fi
+    cage_status=0
+    env -u OMARCHY_CJK_RELAUNCH XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=$cjk_runtime OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE=1 OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANGUAGE=zh \
+      LANG=C.UTF-8 WLR_RENDERER=pixman cage -- foot -c /usr/share/omarchy-iso/foot.ini "$0" || cage_status=$?
+    if [[ -f $cjk_runtime/return-to-vt ]]; then
+      OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANGUAGE=en ./configurator && status=0 || status=$?
+    elif [[ -f $cjk_runtime/cjk-console-started ]]; then
+      exit "$cage_status"
+    else
+      echo "The Chinese console could not start (cage exit $cage_status); continuing in English."
+      unset OMARCHY_CJK_RELAUNCH
+      OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANGUAGE=zh ./configurator && status=0 || status=$?
+    fi
+  done
+  if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]] && ((status == vt_return)); then
+    touch "$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR/return-to-vt"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+  ((status == 0)) || exit "$status"
 fi
 
 # Deferred-provisioning installs skip the celebration/reboot prompt and reboot on
@@ -111,6 +161,11 @@ if [[ -f /root/defer-provisioning ]] ||
   export OMARCHY_UI_DEFER_PROVISIONING=yes
 fi
 
+# Only Chinese reaches the install from the CJK console; English returns to the VT.
+if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]]; then
+  export OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG=zh
+fi
+
 # The foreground dashboard is now the sole visible install UI owner. It starts
 # the actual installer as a non-interactive child, logs child output, waits for
 # completion, then renders the final installed-time/reboot prompt itself.
diff --git a/configs/airootfs/root/configurator b/configs/airootfs/root/configurator
index 0d5bbde..9f3fbc0 100644
--- a/configs/airootfs/root/configurator
+++ b/configs/airootfs/root/configurator
@@ -24,6 +24,72 @@ if [[ ! -r $SETUP_FORM ]]; then
 fi
 source "$SETUP_FORM"
 
+# Chinese text for OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG=zh; disk-step failures stay English for support logs.
+OMARCHY_ZH+=(
+  ["Aborted installation"]="安装已中止"
+  ["You can retry later by running: ./.automated_script.sh"]="稍后可运行 ./.automated_script.sh 重试"
+  ["Let's setup your machine..."]="开始设置这台机器……"
+  ["Press Ctrl+C to prepare this machine for another owner."]="按 Ctrl+C 为另一位使用者准备这台机器。"
+  ["This prepares the machine for another owner."]="这会为另一位使用者准备这台机器。"
+  ["The system installs now, but setup is delayed until first boot."]="系统现在安装，设置留到首次开机。"
+  ["Yes, prepare for another owner"]="是，为他人准备"
+  ["No, keep setting up"]="否，继续设置"
+  ["Prepare this machine for another owner?"]="为另一位使用者准备这台机器？"
+  ["Let's setup your user account..."]="开始设置用户账户……"
+  ["Field"]="项目"
+  ["Value"]="值"
+  ["Username"]="用户名"
+  ["Password"]="密码"
+  ["Full name"]="姓名"
+  ["Email address"]="邮箱"
+  ["Hostname"]="主机名"
+  ["Keyboard"]="键盘"
+  ["Region"]="区域"
+  ["[Skipped]"]="[已跳过]"
+  ["Yes"]="是"
+  ["No, change it"]="否，去修改"
+  ["Does this look right?"]="以上信息正确吗？"
+  ["Not enough free space on %s"]="%s 的空闲空间不足"
+  ["%s has %s of usable free space; Omarchy needs at least 32GB."]="%s 有 %s 可用空闲空间；Omarchy 至少需要 32GB。"
+  ["Open the partition tool to free at least 32GB on %s, then try again."]="打开分区工具，在 %s 上腾出至少 32GB，然后重试。"
+  ["Back"]="返回"
+  ["Open partition tool"]="打开分区工具"
+  ["Return to installation mode?"]="返回安装方式选择？"
+  ["Checking for BitLocker on %s"]="检查 %s 上的 BitLocker"
+  ["BitLocker signature detected on %s."]="在 %s 上发现 BitLocker 签名。"
+  ["Turn BitLocker off in Windows and wait for the drive to finish decrypting, then try again."]="在 Windows 中关闭 BitLocker，等磁盘解密完成后重试。"
+  ["Suspending BitLocker is not enough — the drive stays encrypted."]="只暂停 BitLocker 不够，磁盘仍是加密的。"
+  ["Aborted: BitLocker is enabled on this disk."]="已中止：这块磁盘开启了 BitLocker。"
+  ["Checking existing EFI partitions on %s"]="检查 %s 上已有的 EFI 分区"
+  ["Found a Windows ESP at %s — leaving it untouched."]="在 %s 发现 Windows ESP，保持不动。"
+  ["Omarchy will create its own dedicated EFI partition in free space."]="Omarchy 会在空闲空间中创建自己的 EFI 分区。"
+  ["A new EFI partition will be created in free space."]="会在空闲空间中新建 EFI 分区。"
+  ["Analyzing free space on %s"]="分析 %s 的空闲空间"
+  ["Install Omarchy in the %s of free space."]="在 %s 空闲空间中安装 Omarchy。"
+  ["Press Ctrl+C for unencrypted install."]="按 Ctrl+C 改为不加密安装。"
+  ["Yes, install"]="是，开始安装"
+  ["Yes, install without encryption"]="是，不加密安装"
+  ["Confirm installing on %s"]="确认安装到 %s"
+  ["Creating partitions on %s"]="在 %s 上创建分区"
+  ["Setting up LUKS2 on %s"]="在 %s 上设置 LUKS2 加密"
+  ["Creating Btrfs filesystem and subvolumes"]="创建 Btrfs 文件系统和子卷"
+  ["Let's select where to install Omarchy..."]="选择 Omarchy 的安装位置……"
+  ["Select install disk"]="选择安装磁盘"
+  ["Partition tool for %s"]="%s 的分区工具"
+  ["Create unallocated free space for Omarchy, then write changes and quit."]="为 Omarchy 腾出未分配空间，然后写入更改并退出。"
+  ["Do not create an Omarchy partition here — leave the target area as Free space."]="不要在这里创建 Omarchy 分区，目标区域保持为 Free space。"
+  ["Tip: free-space install needs at least 32GB unallocated, plus 2GB more if no ESP already exists."]="提示：空闲空间安装至少需要 32GB 未分配空间；没有 ESP 时再加 2GB。"
+  ["Open cfdisk"]="打开 cfdisk"
+  ["Open partition tool for %s?"]="打开 %s 的分区工具？"
+  ["Full disk install"]="整盘安装"
+  ["Free space install (alongside existing data)"]="空闲空间安装（保留现有数据）"
+  ["Choose a different disk"]="换一块磁盘"
+  ["Let's select how to install Omarchy..."]="选择 Omarchy 的安装方式……"
+  ["Select installation mode on %s"]="选择 %s 上的安装方式"
+  ["Everything will be overwritten. There is no recovery possible."]="磁盘上的一切都会被覆盖，无法恢复。"
+  ["Confirm overwriting %s"]="确认覆盖 %s"
+)
+
 # Partition creation helpers, shared with test/partition-numbering-test.sh so
 # the numbering logic can be exercised without a real disk.
 DISK_PARTITIONING="${DISK_PARTITIONING:-/usr/share/omarchy-iso/disk-partitioning.sh}"
@@ -176,9 +242,9 @@ greeter() {
 }
 
 abort() {
-  gum style "${1:-Aborted installation}"
+  gum style "${1:-$(omarchy_text "Aborted installation")}"
   echo
-  gum style "You can retry later by running: ./.automated_script.sh"
+  gum style "$(omarchy_text "You can retry later by running: ./.automated_script.sh")"
   exit 1
 }
 
@@ -203,6 +269,30 @@ notice() {
 
 # STEP 1: KEYBOARD LAYOUT
 
+# The target's LANG follows the language picked on the first screen.
+target_lang() {
+  if [[ $language == "zh" ]]; then
+    echo zh_CN.UTF-8
+  else
+    echo en_US.UTF-8
+  fi
+}
+
+# .automated_script.sh moves Chinese into the CJK console and English back to the VT, which applies keymaps.
+apply_language() {
+  if [[ $language == "zh" && -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_RELAUNCH:-} ]]; then
+    exit "$OMARCHY_CJK_RELAUNCH"
+  fi
+  if [[ $language == "en" && -n ${OMARCHY_VT_RETURN:-} ]]; then
+    exit "$OMARCHY_VT_RETURN"
+  fi
+  if [[ $language == "zh" && -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]]; then
+    export OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG=zh
+  else
+    unset OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG
+  fi
+}
+
 keyboard_form() {
   # Ctrl+C is the hidden entry into deferred provisioning, offered on every
   # visit: the user step unwinds back here and nothing is on disk yet. Callers
@@ -212,11 +302,24 @@ keyboard_form() {
   while true; do
     clear_logo
     echo
-    say "Let's setup your machine..."
-    say --foreground 8 "Press Ctrl+C to prepare this machine for another owner."
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Let's setup your machine...")"
+    say --foreground 8 "$(omarchy_text "Press Ctrl+C to prepare this machine for another owner.")"
     echo
 
-    omarchy_prompt_keyboard && status=0 || status=$?
+    status=0
+    if ! $language_chosen; then
+      omarchy_prompt_language && status=0 || status=$?
+      ((status == 0)) && apply_language
+    fi
+    # Esc, Ctrl+C or a later "No, change it" asks the language again.
+    language_chosen=false
+    if ((status == 0)); then
+      local layouts=$OMARCHY_KEYBOARD_LAYOUTS selected="English (US)"
+      [[ $language == "zh" ]] && selected="Chinese (Simplified, Pinyin)"
+      # cage keeps its US layout, so the CJK console offers only US-keymap keyboards.
+      [[ -n ${OMARCHY_CJK_CONSOLE:-} ]] && layouts=$(awk -F'|' '$2 == "us"' <<<"$layouts")
+      OMARCHY_KEYBOARD_LAYOUTS=$layouts omarchy_prompt_keyboard "$selected" && status=0 || status=$?
+    fi
     ((status == 0)) && break
 
     # Esc means "back", and nothing precedes the first screen, so re-ask.
@@ -245,11 +348,11 @@ keyboard_form() {
 confirm_prepare_for_another_owner() {
   clear_logo
   echo
-  say "This prepares the machine for another owner."
-  say --foreground 8 "The system installs now, but setup is delayed until first boot."
+  say "$(omarchy_text "This prepares the machine for another owner.")"
+  say --foreground 8 "$(omarchy_text "The system installs now, but setup is delayed until first boot.")"
   echo
-  gum confirm --affirmative "Yes, prepare for another owner" --negative "No, keep setting up" \
-    "Prepare this machine for another owner?"
+  gum confirm --affirmative "$(omarchy_text "Yes, prepare for another owner")" --negative "$(omarchy_text "No, keep setting up")" \
+    "$(omarchy_text "Prepare this machine for another owner?")"
 }
 
 # The user step. Deferred-provisioning installs skip it entirely — the machine's first owner
@@ -257,7 +360,7 @@ confirm_prepare_for_another_owner() {
 # operator sets nothing user-specific.
 
 user_form() {
-  step "Let's setup your user account..."
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Let's setup your user account...")"
 
   # Each prompt reports 0 (set), OMARCHY_FORM_BACK (Esc), or OMARCHY_FORM_SIGNAL
   # (Ctrl+C). Both non-zero cases unwind to user_step, which decides what they
@@ -295,22 +398,24 @@ user_step() {
     region=$(cd /usr/share/omarchy-iso 2>/dev/null && python -m orchestrator.region "$timezone") || region="global"
     region_row=""
     if [[ $region != "global" ]]; then
-      region_row="\nRegion,$region"
+      region_row="\n$(omarchy_text Region),$region"
     fi
 
     # Add manual padding since gum table -p doesn't respect padding
-    echo -e "Field,Value
-Username,$username
-Password,$(printf "%${#password}s" | tr ' ' '*')
-Full name,${full_name:-[Skipped]}
-Email address,${email_address:-[Skipped]}
-Hostname,$hostname
-Timezone,$timezone$region_row
-Keyboard,$keyboard" |
+    local skipped
+    skipped=$(omarchy_text "[Skipped]")
+    echo -e "$(omarchy_text Field),$(omarchy_text Value)
+$(omarchy_text Username),$username
+$(omarchy_text Password),$(printf "%${#password}s" | tr ' ' '*')
+$(omarchy_text "Full name"),${full_name:-$skipped}
+$(omarchy_text "Email address"),${email_address:-$skipped}
+$(omarchy_text Hostname),$hostname
+$(omarchy_text Timezone),$timezone$region_row
+$(omarchy_text Keyboard),\"$keyboard_label\"" |
       gum table -s "," -p | sed "s/^/${PADDING_LEFT_SPACES}/"
 
     echo
-    if gum confirm --negative "No, change it" "Does this look right?"; then
+    if gum confirm --affirmative "$(omarchy_text "Yes")" --negative "$(omarchy_text "No, change it")" "$(omarchy_text "Does this look right?")"; then
       break
     else
       keyboard_form
@@ -512,11 +617,11 @@ print_dry_run_files() {
 # action so users have a way to actually fix the situation.
 not_enough_space() {
   local available="${1:-0}"
-  step "Not enough free space on $disk"
-  say --foreground 1 "$disk has $(to_gb $available) of usable free space; Omarchy needs at least 32GB."
-  say "Open the partition tool to free at least 32GB on $disk, then try again."
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Not enough free space on %s" "$disk")"
+  say --foreground 1 "$(omarchy_text "%s has %s of usable free space; Omarchy needs at least 32GB." "$disk" "$(to_gb $available)")"
+  say "$(omarchy_text "Open the partition tool to free at least 32GB on %s, then try again." "$disk")"
   echo
-  if ! gum confirm --affirmative "Back" --negative "Open partition tool" "Return to installation mode?"; then
+  if ! gum confirm --affirmative "$(omarchy_text "Back")" --negative "$(omarchy_text "Open partition tool")" "$(omarchy_text "Return to installation mode?")"; then
     open_partition_tool
   fi
   return 1
@@ -526,14 +631,14 @@ not_enough_space() {
 # encryption confirm. Sets the globals run_partition_execute needs. Returns 1
 # to fall back to the install-mode picker.
 run_partition_decide() {
-  step "Checking for BitLocker on $disk"
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Checking for BitLocker on %s" "$disk")"
   local bl_part
   bl_part=$(detect_bitlocker || true)
   if [[ -n "$bl_part" ]]; then
-    say --foreground 1 "BitLocker signature detected on $bl_part."
-    say "Turn BitLocker off in Windows and wait for the drive to finish decrypting, then try again."
-    say "Suspending BitLocker is not enough — the drive stays encrypted."
-    abort "Aborted: BitLocker is enabled on this disk."
+    say --foreground 1 "$(omarchy_text "BitLocker signature detected on %s." "$bl_part")"
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Turn BitLocker off in Windows and wait for the drive to finish decrypting, then try again.")"
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Suspending BitLocker is not enough — the drive stays encrypted.")"
+    abort "$(omarchy_text "Aborted: BitLocker is enabled on this disk.")"
   fi
 
   # Omarchy always creates its own dedicated ESP in free space and never
@@ -542,17 +647,17 @@ run_partition_decide() {
   # Windows ESP is far too small for our Unified Kernel Images, and a shared
   # ESP forces the install unencrypted. A separate Linux ESP keeps Windows
   # and Omarchy fully isolated and keeps LUKS on the table.
-  step "Checking existing EFI partitions on $disk"
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Checking existing EFI partitions on %s" "$disk")"
   local detected_win_esp
   detected_win_esp=$(detect_windows_esp || true)
   if [[ -n "$detected_win_esp" ]]; then
-    say "Found a Windows ESP at $detected_win_esp — leaving it untouched."
-    say "Omarchy will create its own dedicated EFI partition in free space."
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Found a Windows ESP at %s — leaving it untouched." "$detected_win_esp")"
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Omarchy will create its own dedicated EFI partition in free space.")"
   else
-    say "A new EFI partition will be created in free space."
+    say "$(omarchy_text "A new EFI partition will be created in free space.")"
   fi
 
-  step "Analyzing free space on $disk"
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Analyzing free space on %s" "$disk")"
   partprobe "$disk" 2>/dev/null || true
   sleep 1
 
@@ -627,21 +732,21 @@ run_partition_decide() {
   while true; do
     clear_logo
     echo
-    say "Install Omarchy in the $(to_gb $INSTALL_MAX_B) of free space."
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Install Omarchy in the %s of free space." "$(to_gb $INSTALL_MAX_B)")"
 
     case $mode in
       encrypted)
-        say --foreground 8 "Press Ctrl+C for unencrypted install."
-        affirmative="Yes, install"
+        say --foreground 8 "$(omarchy_text "Press Ctrl+C for unencrypted install.")"
+        affirmative="$(omarchy_text "Yes, install")"
         ;;
       unencrypted)
-        affirmative="Yes, install without encryption"
+        affirmative="$(omarchy_text "Yes, install without encryption")"
         ;;
     esac
     echo
 
-    gum confirm --affirmative "$affirmative" --negative "No, change it" \
-      "Confirm installing on $disk"
+    gum confirm --affirmative "$affirmative" --negative "$(omarchy_text "No, change it")" \
+      "$(omarchy_text "Confirm installing on %s" "$disk")"
     confirm_status=$?
 
     case $confirm_status in
@@ -699,7 +804,7 @@ run_partition_execute() {
     say "[dry] partition numbers are assigned by parted at creation, then read back"
     say "[dry] encrypted=$encrypt_installation kernel=$kernel_choice"
   else
-    step "Creating partitions on $disk"
+    step "$(omarchy_text "Creating partitions on %s" "$disk")"
     if $needs_mklabel; then
       disk_step "initializing GPT on $disk" parted --script "$disk" mklabel gpt
       partprobe "$disk" 2>/dev/null || true
@@ -737,7 +842,7 @@ run_partition_execute() {
     disk_step "clearing stale signatures on $root_partition_device" wipefs -af "$root_partition_device"
 
     if [[ "$encrypt_installation" == "true" ]]; then
-      step "Setting up LUKS2 on $root_partition_device"
+      step "$(omarchy_text "Setting up LUKS2 on %s" "$root_partition_device")"
       # Kept as pipes rather than routed through disk_step: the passphrase must
       # not become an argv the process table can show. Folding stderr into
       # stdout still lands any error in the install log.
@@ -754,7 +859,7 @@ run_partition_execute() {
       root_mapper="$root_partition_device"
     fi
 
-    step "Creating Btrfs filesystem and subvolumes"
+    step "$(omarchy_text "Creating Btrfs filesystem and subvolumes")"
     disk_step "creating the Btrfs filesystem on $root_mapper" \
       mkfs.btrfs -f -L OMARCHY "$root_mapper"
     wait_for_device "$root_mapper" || disk_abort_hook "Root device $root_mapper never appeared"
@@ -842,7 +947,7 @@ run_partition_execute() {
     "locale_config": {
         "kb_layout": "$keyboard",
         "sys_enc": "UTF-8",
-        "sys_lang": "en_US.UTF-8"
+        "sys_lang": "$(target_lang)"
     },
     "mirror_config": {
         "custom_repositories": [],
@@ -872,7 +977,7 @@ _EOF_
 }
 
 disk_form() {
-  step "Let's select where to install Omarchy..."
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Let's select where to install Omarchy...")"
 
   # Don't offer the install media as an option (Arch ISO mounts it here)
   local boot_source
@@ -898,19 +1003,19 @@ disk_form() {
     fi
   done <<<"$available_disks"
 
-  selected_display=$(echo "$disk_options" | gum choose --header "Select install disk") || abort
+  selected_display=$(echo "$disk_options" | gum choose --header "$(omarchy_text "Select install disk")") || abort
   disk=$(echo "$selected_display" | awk '{print $1}')
 }
 
 # STEP 4: INSTALL MODE
 
 open_partition_tool() {
-  step "Partition tool for $disk"
-  gum style "Create unallocated free space for Omarchy, then write changes and quit."
-  gum style --foreground 8 "Do not create an Omarchy partition here — leave the target area as Free space."
-  gum style --foreground 8 "Tip: free-space install needs at least 32GB unallocated, plus 2GB more if no ESP already exists."
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Partition tool for %s" "$disk")"
+  gum style "$(omarchy_text "Create unallocated free space for Omarchy, then write changes and quit.")"
+  gum style --foreground 8 "$(omarchy_text "Do not create an Omarchy partition here — leave the target area as Free space.")"
+  gum style --foreground 8 "$(omarchy_text "Tip: free-space install needs at least 32GB unallocated, plus 2GB more if no ESP already exists.")"
   echo
-  gum confirm --affirmative "Open cfdisk" --negative "Back" "Open partition tool for $disk?" || return 0
+  gum confirm --affirmative "$(omarchy_text "Open cfdisk")" --negative "$(omarchy_text "Back")" "$(omarchy_text "Open partition tool for %s?" "$disk")" || return 0
 
   clear
   cfdisk "$disk" || true
@@ -943,17 +1048,17 @@ requires_full_disk_install() {
 }
 
 install_mode_form() {
-  local choices=("Full disk install")
+  local choices=("$(omarchy_text "Full disk install")")
 
   # The free-space/protected path registers an EFI boot entry and is UEFI-only.
   # Full-disk installs still support BIOS through the orchestrator's BIOS branch.
   if [[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ]] && ! $full_disk_only; then
-    choices+=("Free space install (alongside existing data)")
+    choices+=("$(omarchy_text "Free space install (alongside existing data)")")
   fi
-  choices+=("Choose a different disk")
+  choices+=("$(omarchy_text "Choose a different disk")")
 
-  step "Let's select how to install Omarchy..."
-  install_mode=$(gum choose --header "Select installation mode on $disk" "${choices[@]}") || abort
+  step "$(omarchy_text "Let's select how to install Omarchy...")"
+  install_mode=$(gum choose --header "$(omarchy_text "Select installation mode on %s" "$disk")" "${choices[@]}") || abort
 }
 
 confirm_disk_overwrite() {
@@ -963,17 +1068,17 @@ confirm_disk_overwrite() {
   while true; do
     clear_logo
     echo
-    say "Everything will be overwritten. There is no recovery possible."
+    say "$(omarchy_text "Everything will be overwritten. There is no recovery possible.")"
 
     if [[ $mode == "encrypted" ]]; then
-      say --foreground 8 "Press Ctrl+C for unencrypted install."
-      affirmative="Yes, install"
+      say --foreground 8 "$(omarchy_text "Press Ctrl+C for unencrypted install.")"
+      affirmative="$(omarchy_text "Yes, install")"
     else
-      affirmative="Yes, install without encryption"
+      affirmative="$(omarchy_text "Yes, install without encryption")"
     fi
 
     echo
-    gum confirm --affirmative "$affirmative" --negative "No, change it" "Confirm overwriting ${disk}"
+    gum confirm --affirmative "$affirmative" --negative "$(omarchy_text "No, change it")" "$(omarchy_text "Confirm overwriting %s" "$disk")"
     confirm_status=$?
 
     case $confirm_status in
@@ -1012,13 +1117,13 @@ select_installation() {
     # With no free-space option to offer, a full-disk install is the only
     # mode, so skip the picker and go straight to the overwrite confirm.
     if $full_disk_only; then
-      install_mode="Full disk install"
+      install_mode=$(omarchy_text "Full disk install")
     else
       install_mode_form
     fi
 
     case "$install_mode" in
-      "Full disk install")
+      "$(omarchy_text "Full disk install")")
         if confirm_disk_overwrite; then
           install_target="full_disk"
           return 0
@@ -1027,13 +1132,13 @@ select_installation() {
         # wants a different disk.
         $full_disk_only && disk_form
         ;;
-      "Free space install"*)
+      "$(omarchy_text "Free space install (alongside existing data)")")
         if run_partition_decide; then
           install_target="free_space"
           return 0
         fi
         ;;
-      "Choose a different disk")
+      "$(omarchy_text "Choose a different disk")")
         disk_form
         ;;
     esac
@@ -1044,12 +1149,20 @@ select_installation() {
 
 defer_provisioning=false
 install_target="full_disk"
+# A rerun arrives with the language chosen; otherwise English.
+language="${OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANGUAGE:-en}"
+language_chosen=false
 
 # Let the live VT reach its settled width before the first screen so the logo
 # isn't measured against the transient 80-column boot console.
 wait_for_stable_terminal
 
-greeter
+if [[ -n ${OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANGUAGE:-} ]]; then
+  apply_language
+  language_chosen=true
+else
+  greeter
+fi
 
 keyboard_form
 
@@ -1235,7 +1348,7 @@ cat <<-_EOF_ >user_configuration.json
     "locale_config": {
         "kb_layout": "$keyboard",
         "sys_enc": "UTF-8",
-        "sys_lang": "en_US.UTF-8"
+        "sys_lang": "$(target_lang)"
     },
     "mirror_config": {
         "custom_repositories": [],
diff --git a/configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-dashboard b/configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-dashboard
index e20e61a..3bb8d22 100755
--- a/configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-dashboard
+++ b/configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-dashboard
@@ -88,6 +88,81 @@ tips=(
   "Keep the system fresh with Update in the Omarchy menu"
 )
 
+# omarchy_text and its Chinese table come from the setup form the configurator uses.
+SETUP_FORM="${SETUP_FORM:-/usr/share/omarchy-iso/setup-form.sh}"
+[[ -r $SETUP_FORM ]] || SETUP_FORM="${OMARCHY_PATH:-/usr/share/omarchy}/install/provisioning/setup-form.sh"
+source "$SETUP_FORM"
+OMARCHY_ZH+=(
+  ["Tip: %s"]="提示：%s"
+  ["Installed Omarchy"]="Omarchy 安装完成"
+  ["Installed Omarchy in %s"]="Omarchy 安装完成，用时 %s"
+  ["Reboot Now"]="立即重启"
+  ["Last log lines:"]="日志末尾："
+  ["Last target log lines:"]="目标系统日志末尾："
+  ["Press Enter to continue…"]="按回车继续……"
+  ["No log uploader is available in this environment."]="这个环境没有日志上传工具。"
+  ["Install log: %s"]="安装日志：%s"
+  ["Target log: %s"]="目标系统日志：%s"
+  ["Omarchy installation stopped"]="Omarchy 安装已停止"
+  ["Installer exited with status %s"]="安装程序退出，状态码 %s"
+  ["Get help at https://omarchy.org/discord"]="求助：https://omarchy.org/discord"
+  ["What would you like to do?"]="接下来做什么？"
+  ["Upload log for support"]="上传日志求助"
+  ["View full log"]="查看完整日志"
+  ["Drop to shell"]="进入 shell"
+  ["Reboot"]="重启"
+  ["Power off"]="关机"
+  ["The install medium was misread"]="安装介质读取出错"
+  ["This package is intact on this ISO, so the download and the write were fine:"]="这个软件包在 ISO 中完好，下载和写入都没有问题："
+  ["Try another USB port or another stick, and test this machine's memory"]="换一个 USB 口或换一个 U 盘，并检测这台机器的内存"
+  ["The install medium is damaged"]="安装介质已损坏"
+  ["This package no longer matches the checksum it was built with:"]="这个软件包和构建时的校验和不再一致："
+  ["Re-download the ISO, verify it with sha256sum, and write the USB again"]="重新下载 ISO，用 sha256sum 校验，再重新写入 U 盘"
+  ["If a verified ISO fails here too, the USB stick itself is the problem"]="如果校验过的 ISO 在这里也失败，问题出在 U 盘本身"
+  ["The install medium is damaged or misread"]="安装介质已损坏或读取出错"
+  ["pacman rejected this package, read straight off this ISO:"]="pacman 拒绝了这个直接从 ISO 读出的软件包："
+  ["Verify your download with sha256sum, then write the USB again"]="用 sha256sum 校验下载的文件，再重新写入 U 盘"
+  ["If the download verifies, the stick or this machine's memory is at fault"]="如果下载校验无误，问题出在 U 盘或这台机器的内存"
+)
+
+if [[ ${OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG:-} == "zh" ]]; then
+  whimsy=(
+    "备好贴心的默认设置"
+    "省掉装机的折腾"
+    "挑选打磨过的软件包"
+    "调配协调的配色"
+    "准备悦目的像素"
+    "唤醒 Hyprland"
+    "接好顺手的界面"
+    "搭起漂亮的系统"
+    "写好趁手的命令"
+    "让机器焕然一新"
+    "擦亮每一个像素"
+    "调好终端的品味"
+    "织出流畅的工作流"
+  )
+  tips=(
+    "Super + Space 打开 Omarchy 菜单：应用、设置等"
+    "Super + K 查看全部快捷键"
+    "Super 是键盘上的 Windows 或 Command 键"
+    "用 Xournal++ 给 PDF 签名"
+    "用 LocalSend 和手机、电脑互传文件"
+    "菜单 安装 > 网页应用 把任意网站变成应用"
+    "Super + Return 打开终端，Super + Shift + Return 打开浏览器"
+    "图片用 Pinta，视频用 Kdenlive，文档用 LibreOffice"
+    "Super + Ctrl + Print 用 OCR 抓取屏幕文字"
+    "Print 截屏，Alt + Print 录屏"
+    "Super + Ctrl + R 设置提醒"
+    "菜单 风格 > 主题 切换主题"
+    "双击菜单栏让它透明"
+    "菜单 安装 > Windows 运行完整的 Windows 虚拟机"
+    "Super + Ctrl + V 打开剪贴板管理器"
+    "Super + 1 到 0 切换工作区，加 Shift 带上窗口"
+    "Super + Print 拾取屏幕上任意位置的颜色"
+    "用菜单里的 更新 让系统保持最新"
+  )
+fi
+
 cleanup() {
   printf '%s%s' "$RESET" "$SHOW_CURSOR" >"$TTY_PATH" 2>/dev/null || true
 }
@@ -286,8 +361,8 @@ left_padding() {
 
 visible_len() {
   local text="$1"
-  text="$(printf '%b' "$text" | sed -E $'s/\x1b\\[[0-9;?]*[A-Za-z]//g')"
-  printf '%s' "${#text}"
+  # wc -L counts display columns, so double-width CJK centers too.
+  printf '%b' "$text" | sed -E $'s/\x1b\\[[0-9;?]*[A-Za-z]//g' | wc -L
 }
 
 blank_line() { printf '\r%s\n' "$CLEAR_LINE"; }
@@ -678,7 +753,7 @@ render_dynamic() {
   render_icon "$DISPLAY_PM"
 
   message="$(truncate_for_width "$(current_whimsy)" "$PROGRESS_TEXT_WIDTH")"
-  tip="$(truncate_for_width "Tip: $(current_tip)" "$PROGRESS_TEXT_WIDTH")"
+  tip="$(truncate_for_width "$(omarchy_text "Tip: %s" "$(current_tip)")" "$PROGRESS_TEXT_WIDTH")"
   printf '%s%d;1H' "$CSI" "$((TOP_ROW + ICON_HEIGHT + 1))"
   center "${GREEN}$((DISPLAY_PM / 10))%${RESET}" "$PROGRESS_TEXT_WIDTH"
   center "${GREEN}${message}${RESET}" "$PROGRESS_TEXT_WIDTH"
@@ -718,9 +793,13 @@ install_duration() {
 }
 
 render_finish() {
-  local duration effect_canvas_width title="Installed Omarchy"
+  local duration effect_canvas_width title
   duration="$(install_duration || true)"
-  [[ -n $duration ]] && title+=" in ${duration}"
+  if [[ -n $duration ]]; then
+    title=$(omarchy_text "Installed Omarchy in %s" "$duration")
+  else
+    title=$(omarchy_text "Installed Omarchy")
+  fi
   # ttfx centers its text two columns right of plain centering. A canvas two
   # columns narrower aligns the animation with the title and fallback logo.
   effect_canvas_width="$(term_cols)"
@@ -765,7 +844,7 @@ render_finish() {
 }
 
 reboot_prompt() {
-  local prompt_pad
+  local prompt_pad label
 
   # Nobody to confirm; the OMARCHY_UI_AUTO_REBOOT check at the call site still
   # applies, so setting both stops on the finish screen without a keyboard.
@@ -776,24 +855,31 @@ reboot_prompt() {
   # gum allows. FINISH_HEIGHT budgets for the same three rows.
   printf '%s%d;1H%s' "$CSI" "$((FINISH_TOP_ROW + LOGO_HEIGHT + 2))" "$CLEAR_LINE" >"$TTY_PATH"
 
-  prompt_pad=$(( ( $(term_cols) - 18 ) / 2 ))
+  # gum pads the button label by four columns on each side.
+  label=$(omarchy_text "Reboot Now")
+  prompt_pad=$(( ( $(term_cols) - $(visible_len "$label") - 8 ) / 2 ))
   (( prompt_pad < 0 )) && prompt_pad=0
   gum confirm \
     --padding "0 0 0 $prompt_pad" \
     --show-help=false \
     --default \
-    --affirmative "Reboot Now" \
+    --affirmative "$label" \
     --negative "" \
     "" <"$TTY_PATH" >"$TTY_PATH" 2>&1
 }
 
+# Columns, not characters: each CJK character takes two.
 truncate_for_width() {
   local text="$1" width="$2"
-  if (( ${#text} > width )); then
-    printf '%s…' "${text:0:$((width - 1))}"
-  else
+  if (( $(printf '%s' "$text" | wc -L) <= width )); then
     printf '%s' "$text"
+    return
   fi
+  text=${text:0:$((width - 1))}
+  while (( $(printf '%s' "$text" | wc -L) > width - 1 )); do
+    text=${text%?}
+  done
+  printf '%s…' "$text"
 }
 
 render_failure_log_tail() {
@@ -819,8 +905,8 @@ render_failure_log_tail() {
   fi
   [[ -f $tail_log ]] || return 0
 
-  label="Last log lines:"
-  [[ $tail_log == /mnt/* ]] && label="Last target log lines:"
+  label=$(omarchy_text "Last log lines:")
+  [[ $tail_log == /mnt/* ]] && label=$(omarchy_text "Last target log lines:")
   line_at "$CONTENT_WIDTH" 2 "${DIM}${label}${RESET}"
   printf '\n'
   tail -n "$lines" "$tail_log" 2>/dev/null | while IFS= read -r line; do
@@ -843,7 +929,7 @@ find_log_uploader() {
 }
 
 prompt_enter() {
-  printf '\nPress Enter to continue…' >"$TTY_PATH"
+  printf '\n%s' "$(omarchy_text "Press Enter to continue…")" >"$TTY_PATH"
   IFS= read -r _ <"$TTY_PATH" || true
 }
 
@@ -854,9 +940,9 @@ upload_failure_log() {
     "$uploader" install >"$TTY_PATH" 2>&1 || true
   else
     {
-      echo "No log uploader is available in this environment."
-      echo "Install log: $LOG_FILE"
-      [[ -f /mnt/var/log/omarchy-install.log ]] && echo "Target log: /mnt/var/log/omarchy-install.log"
+      printf '%s\n' "$(omarchy_text "No log uploader is available in this environment.")"
+      printf '%s\n' "$(omarchy_text "Install log: %s" "$LOG_FILE")"
+      [[ -f /mnt/var/log/omarchy-install.log ]] && printf '%s\n' "$(omarchy_text "Target log: %s" /mnt/var/log/omarchy-install.log)"
     } >"$TTY_PATH"
   fi
   prompt_enter
@@ -907,6 +993,8 @@ render_media_diagnosis() {
       blank_line
       continue
     fi
+    # The support log keeps English; the screen shows the translation, and package names pass through.
+    [[ ${OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG:-} == "zh" ]] && line=${OMARCHY_ZH[$line]:-$line}
     if (( first )); then
       center "${RED}$(truncate_for_width "$line" "$CONTENT_WIDTH")${RESET}" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
       first=0
@@ -922,8 +1010,8 @@ render_failure() {
   blank_line
   render_logo
   blank_line
-  center "${RED}Omarchy installation stopped${RESET}" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
-  center "Installer exited with status $status" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
+  center "${RED}$(omarchy_text "Omarchy installation stopped")${RESET}" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
+  center "$(omarchy_text "Installer exited with status %s" "$status")" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
 
   render_media_diagnosis "$media_diagnosis"
 
@@ -938,12 +1026,12 @@ render_failure() {
   blank_line
   render_failure_log_tail "$(media_diagnosis_rows "$media_diagnosis")"
   blank_line
-  center "${DIM}Get help at https://omarchy.org/discord${RESET}" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
+  center "${DIM}$(omarchy_text "Get help at https://omarchy.org/discord")${RESET}" "$CONTENT_WIDTH"
   blank_line
 }
 
 failure_menu() {
-  local choice uploader
+  local choice uploader actions shown i
 
   [[ ${OMARCHY_UI_FAILURE_ACTION:-} == "exit" ]] && return 0
   # The failure screen and log tail have already rendered; exit with the
@@ -953,26 +1041,20 @@ failure_menu() {
   while true; do
     uploader=""
     uploader=$(find_log_uploader || true)
-    if [[ -n $uploader ]]; then
-      choice=$(gum choose \
-        --height 6 \
-        --header "What would you like to do?" \
-        "Upload log for support" \
-        "View full log" \
-        "Drop to shell" \
-        "Reboot" \
-        "Power off" \
-        <"$TTY_PATH" 2>"$TTY_PATH") || choice="Drop to shell"
-    else
-      choice=$(gum choose \
-        --height 5 \
-        --header "What would you like to do?" \
-        "View full log" \
-        "Drop to shell" \
-        "Reboot" \
-        "Power off" \
-        <"$TTY_PATH" 2>"$TTY_PATH") || choice="Drop to shell"
-    fi
+    actions=("View full log" "Drop to shell" "Reboot" "Power off")
+    [[ -n $uploader ]] && actions=("Upload log for support" "${actions[@]}")
+    shown=()
+    for i in "${!actions[@]}"; do
+      shown+=("$(omarchy_text "${actions[i]}")")
+    done
+    choice=$(gum choose \
+      --height "$((${#actions[@]} + 1))" \
+      --header "$(omarchy_text "What would you like to do?")" \
+      "${shown[@]}" \
+      <"$TTY_PATH" 2>"$TTY_PATH") || choice=""
+    for i in "${!shown[@]}"; do
+      [[ ${shown[i]} == "$choice" ]] && choice=${actions[i]}
+    done
 
     case "$choice" in
       "Upload log for support")
diff --git a/configs/airootfs/usr/share/omarchy-iso/foot.ini b/configs/airootfs/usr/share/omarchy-iso/foot.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6685477
--- /dev/null
+++ b/configs/airootfs/usr/share/omarchy-iso/foot.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+# The Chinese installer's console: the VT's Tokyo Night palette, with Noto Sans Mono CJK from the offline mirror.
+[main]
+font=Noto Sans Mono CJK SC:size=13
+# Noto's tall default rows leave the summary too few lines for the logo.
+line-height=22px
+
+[colors-dark]
+background=1a1b26
+foreground=a9b1d6
+regular0=1a1b26
+regular1=f7768e
+regular2=9ece6a
+regular3=e0af68
+regular4=7aa2f7
+regular5=bb9af7
+regular6=7dcfff
+regular7=a9b1d6
+bright0=414868
+bright1=f7768e
+bright2=9ece6a
+bright3=e0af68
+bright4=7aa2f7
+bright5=bb9af7
+bright6=7dcfff
+bright7=c0caf5
+
+# cage draws no title bar, and a reserved one leaves a black strip.
+[csd]
+preferred=none
diff --git a/test/unit/install-media-diagnosis-test.sh b/test/unit/install-media-diagnosis-test.sh
index cbad41d..41ded2c 100755
--- a/test/unit/install-media-diagnosis-test.sh
+++ b/test/unit/install-media-diagnosis-test.sh
@@ -273,6 +273,12 @@ mkdir -p "$omarchy_share"
   printf 'logo bottom row%*s\n' 66 ''
 } >"$omarchy_share/logo.txt"
 
+# The ISO vendors the runtime's setup form; the dashboard only needs its text lookup.
+cat >"$work/setup-form.sh" <<'FORM'
+declare -gA OMARCHY_ZH=()
+omarchy_text() { local text=$1; shift; printf -- "$text" "$@"; }
+FORM
+
 run_dashboard() {
   local install_log="$1"
 
@@ -284,7 +290,7 @@ run_dashboard() {
              "error": "Pacstrap failed. See /var/log/archinstall.log"}]}
 STATE
   : >"$screen"
-  script -qefc "stty rows 40 cols 120; PATH='$stubs:$PATH' OMARCHY_PATH='$omarchy_share' OMARCHY_UI_INTERACTIVE=no OMARCHY_UI_FAILURE_ACTION=exit OMARCHY_FAILURE_TAIL_LOG='$install_log' '$DASHBOARD' '$install_log' '$state_file' -- bash -c 'exit 1'" \
+  script -qefc "stty rows 40 cols 120; PATH='$stubs:$PATH' OMARCHY_PATH='$omarchy_share' SETUP_FORM='$work/setup-form.sh' OMARCHY_UI_INTERACTIVE=no OMARCHY_UI_FAILURE_ACTION=exit OMARCHY_FAILURE_TAIL_LOG='$install_log' '$DASHBOARD' '$install_log' '$state_file' -- bash -c 'exit 1'" \
     "$screen" >/dev/null 2>&1
 }
 
diff --git a/test/unit/install-text-zh-test.sh b/test/unit/install-text-zh-test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..da38e40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/install-text-zh-test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# Every installer text needs an OMARCHY_ZH entry, or a Chinese install shows it in English.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+ROOT=$(cd -- "$(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/../.." && pwd)
+SETUP_FORM="${OMARCHY_SOURCE:-$ROOT/../omarchy}/install/provisioning/setup-form.sh"
+
+fail() {
+  printf 'not ok - %s\n' "$1"
+  [[ -z ${2:-} ]] || printf '%s\n' "$2" | sed 's/^/# /'
+  exit 1
+}
+
+if [[ ! -r $SETUP_FORM ]]; then
+  printf 'ok - # skip the setup form is not checked out next to this repo (set OMARCHY_SOURCE)\n'
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+source "$SETUP_FORM"
+for file in configs/airootfs/root/configurator configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-dashboard; do
+  eval "$(sed -n '/^OMARCHY_ZH+=(/,/^)/p' "$ROOT/$file")"
+done
+
+mapfile -t texts < <(
+  grep -ho 'omarchy_text "[^"$]*"' "$ROOT/configs/airootfs/root/configurator" "$ROOT/configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-dashboard" |
+    sed 's/^omarchy_text "//; s/"$//' | sort -u
+)
+((${#texts[@]} > 50)) || fail "the installer routes its text through omarchy_text" "found ${#texts[@]}"
+for text in "${texts[@]}"; do
+  [[ -n ${OMARCHY_ZH[$text]:-} ]] || fail "every installer text has a Chinese entry" "missing: $text"
+done
+printf 'ok - every installer and dashboard text has a Chinese entry\n'
+
+for action in "View full log" "Drop to shell" "Reboot" "Power off" "Upload log for support"; do
+  [[ -n ${OMARCHY_ZH[$action]:-} ]] || fail "labels passed through variables have Chinese entries" "missing: $action"
+done
+printf 'ok - labels passed through variables have Chinese entries\n'
+
+mapfile -t diagnosis < <(grep -x ' *echo "[^"$]*"' "$ROOT/configs/airootfs/usr/local/bin/omarchy-install-diagnose-media" | sed 's/^ *echo "//; s/"$//')
+((${#diagnosis[@]} >= 10)) || fail "the media diagnosis sentences are found" "found ${#diagnosis[@]}"
+for line in "${diagnosis[@]}"; do
+  [[ -n ${OMARCHY_ZH[$line]:-} ]] || fail "every media diagnosis sentence has a Chinese entry" "missing: $line"
+done
+printf 'ok - every media diagnosis sentence has a Chinese entry\n'
+
+[[ $(OMARCHY_INSTALL_LANG=zh omarchy_text "Confirm overwriting %s" /dev/vda) == "确认覆盖 /dev/vda" ]] ||
+  fail "Chinese text keeps its printf arguments"
+[[ $(omarchy_text "Confirm overwriting %s" /dev/vda) == "Confirm overwriting /dev/vda" ]] ||
+  fail "English stays the default"
+printf 'ok - omarchy_text formats Chinese and English alike\n'