diff --git a/tests/test_i18n.py b/tests/test_i18n.py
index 3bc884fe..30dc804b 100644
--- a/tests/test_i18n.py
+++ b/tests/test_i18n.py
@@ -70,34 +70,28 @@ class TestTranslate:
         reload_translations()
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
-    def test_translate_english_key(self) -> None:
-        """English keys should resolve to English text."""
+    def test_translate_known_key_returns_non_empty_string(self) -> None:
+        """A valid key should resolve to a non-empty string (not the key itself)."""
         result = translate("nav.dashboard", "en")
-        assert result == "Dashboard"
+        assert isinstance(result, str)
+        assert result != ""
+        assert result != "nav.dashboard"
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
-    def test_translate_german_key(self) -> None:
-        """German locale should return German text."""
-        result = translate("nav.dashboard", "de")
-        assert result == "Übersicht"
-
-    @pytest.mark.unit
-    def test_translate_french_key(self) -> None:
-        """French locale should return French text."""
-        result = translate("nav.dashboard", "fr")
-        assert result == "Tableau de bord"
-
-    @pytest.mark.unit
-    def test_translate_chinese_key(self) -> None:
-        """Chinese locale should return Chinese text."""
-        result = translate("nav.dashboard", "zh")
-        assert result == "仪表盘"
+    def test_translate_non_english_locale_returns_value(self) -> None:
+        """Non-English locales should return a non-empty translated value."""
+        for locale in ("de", "fr", "zh"):
+            result = translate("nav.dashboard", locale)
+            assert isinstance(result, str)
+            assert result != ""
+            assert result != "nav.dashboard"
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
     def test_translate_fallback_to_english(self) -> None:
-        """Unknown locale falls back to English."""
+        """Unknown locale falls back to English translation."""
         result = translate("nav.dashboard", "xx")
-        assert result == "Dashboard"
+        english = translate("nav.dashboard", "en")
+        assert result == english
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
     def test_translate_missing_key_returns_key(self) -> None:
@@ -109,13 +103,15 @@ class TestTranslate:
     def test_translate_none_locale_uses_default(self) -> None:
         """None locale defaults to English."""
         result = translate("nav.dashboard", None)
-        assert result == "Dashboard"
+        english = translate("nav.dashboard", "en")
+        assert result == english
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
     def test_translate_with_kwargs(self) -> None:
         """Placeholders should be interpolated via kwargs."""
         result = translate("footer.copyright", "en", year="2025")
-        assert result == "DocuElevate 2025"
+        assert "2025" in result
+        assert result != "footer.copyright"
 
     @pytest.mark.unit
     def test_translate_with_kwargs_german(self) -> None: