Spacing Is Localization

Spacing is often the first cultural signal a layout sends. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Latin text do not occupy a line in the same way, and a grid that feels precise in English can feel cramped or loose after translation.

Start with body copy. Set target line lengths for each language, then inspect real paragraphs instead of placeholder strings. CJK paragraphs tolerate different densities, but dense does not mean careless.

For product teams, define spacing tokens that allow market-level adjustment. Keep component structure consistent, but let line-height, label width, and headline rhythm respond to the writing system.