diff --git a/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/chinese/comments.js b/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/chinese/comments.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4997de02e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/chinese/comments.js
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+const TRANSLATIONS = [
+  {
+    id: 'hyek8f',
+    text: 'Chinese translation one'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'rscjup',
+    text: 'Chinese translation two'
+  }
+];
+
+module.exports = TRANSLATIONS;
diff --git a/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/english/comments.js b/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/english/comments.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..68a980c32e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/english/comments.js
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+const COMMENTS_TO_TRANSLATE = [
+  {
+    id: 'hyek8f',
+    text: 'To be translated one'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'rscjup',
+    text: 'To be translated two'
+  }
+];
+
+const COMMENTS_TO_NOT_TRANSLATE = [
+  {
+    id: 'rms15q',
+    text: 'Not translated one'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '78gz3i',
+    text: 'Not translated two'
+  }
+];
+
+exports.COMMENTS_TO_TRANSLATE = COMMENTS_TO_TRANSLATE;
+exports.COMMENTS_TO_NOT_TRANSLATE = COMMENTS_TO_NOT_TRANSLATE;
diff --git a/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/spanish/comments.js b/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/spanish/comments.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f180b6d897
--- /dev/null
+++ b/curriculum/__fixtures__/dictionaries/spanish/comments.js
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+const TRANSLATIONS = [
+  {
+    id: 'hyek8f',
+    text: 'Spanish translation one'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'rscjup',
+    text: 'Spanish translation two'
+  }
+];
+
+module.exports = TRANSLATIONS;
diff --git a/curriculum/dictionaries/chinese/comments.js b/curriculum/dictionaries/chinese/comments.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d6c2a06ffe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/curriculum/dictionaries/chinese/comments.js
@@ -0,0 +1,441 @@
+/* eslint-disable max-len */
+// NOTE: updates to translations will not appear until the client is restarted
+// i.e. close it and run npm run develop
+
+// Only translate the text that is not surround by single backticks
+const TRANSLATIONS = [
+  {
+    id: 'hyek8f',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'rscjup',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'am2xch',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '6rztdg',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'to1vwe',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '31b7ey',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'c24by8',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'jbrt8k',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'zkh12d',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'mobihi',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'v3ups9',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'iw4a3a',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '463xp8',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'u3inrm',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'axnbgg',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'i2kck7',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'dlbobn',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'v127zb',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'ejm0ql',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'iwch6t',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'hihhyz',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'sdxti5',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'wfw6sc',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'sjw6f4',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'nupsh2',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'xfjb3s',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'htpjk7',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'tfzdsp',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'zh20mi',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '43qs4c',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'nen3qo',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '0cwyam',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'fq0wsg',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'tegkqa',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'b5oihn',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '91y4pd',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'eie1vk',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '5s7nnl',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '34qe2q',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '2c1wra',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '923cpg',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'picsyf',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'ysjr1s',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'kjd1am',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '5tx4ow',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '9yu58b',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'ciddtb',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'ixx548',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '6mbhjj',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'jshtzq',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'cw1ghf',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'iuccln',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'bm2mop',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'kchz5k',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'bfd23c',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'ead98i',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '7zf0i2',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '5j2l88',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'e843r9',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '5fvehh',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'qn720a',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'j86mef',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'mk7rvy',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'n7vm1s',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'cvh4x7',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'lvmnm7',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'avpx79',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '0b5ps6',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'uemoej',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'lm86nf',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'qscelx',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'atqiig',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'yq81wg',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'kxio9j',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'alh6pw',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '1cfidd',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '96tntk',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '58a5g7',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '71bus9',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '7wp46n',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'oefvg5',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'mnt4d3',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'fhe9m4',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'za434b',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '7c1fv9',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'r44ovx',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'cl8peb',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '1xi3cv',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '3gc01a',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '14kfog',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'd1shtt',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'pqq6sy',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'nd2oxy',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'ocm81t',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'or9p5p',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'g1608f',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'bheu99',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'x1djjr',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '22ta95',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'w43c7l',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'pgckoj',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '2xiqvv',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '2sx8zg',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'xmjfd8',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'es69h6',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'fho5t5',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: '00kcrm',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'sxpg2a',
+    text: 'comment placeholder (needs translation)'
+  }
+];
+
+module.exports = TRANSLATIONS;
diff --git a/curriculum/getChallenges.js b/curriculum/getChallenges.js
index cff04f85f8..3723789b3c 100644
--- a/curriculum/getChallenges.js
+++ b/curriculum/getChallenges.js
@@ -10,10 +10,6 @@ const {
   translateCommentsInChallenge
 } = require('../tools/challenge-md-parser/translation-parser/translation-parser');
 /* eslint-enable max-len*/
-const {
-  COMMENTS_TO_TRANSLATE,
-  COMMENTS_TO_NOT_TRANSLATE
-} = require('./dictionaries/english/comments');
 
 const { isAuditedCert } = require('../utils/is-audited');
 const { dasherize, nameify } = require('../utils/slugs');
@@ -28,6 +24,78 @@ const metaDir = path.resolve(challengesDir, '_meta');
 exports.challengesDir = challengesDir;
 exports.metaDir = metaDir;
 
+const COMMENT_TRANSLATIONS = createCommentMap(
+  path.resolve(__dirname, './dictionaries')
+);
+
+function createCommentMap(dictionariesDir) {
+  // get all the languages for which there are dictionaries.
+  const languages = fs
+    .readdirSync(dictionariesDir)
+    .filter(x => x !== 'english');
+
+  // get all their dictionaries
+  const dictionaries = languages.reduce(
+    (acc, lang) => ({
+      ...acc,
+      [lang]: require(path.resolve(dictionariesDir, lang, 'comments'))
+    }),
+    {}
+  );
+
+  // get the english dicts
+  const {
+    COMMENTS_TO_TRANSLATE,
+    COMMENTS_TO_NOT_TRANSLATE
+  } = require(path.resolve(dictionariesDir, 'english', 'comments'));
+
+  // map from english comment text to translations
+  const translatedCommentMap = COMMENTS_TO_TRANSLATE.reduce(
+    (acc, { id, text }) => {
+      return {
+        ...acc,
+        [text]: getTranslationEntry(dictionaries, { engId: id, text })
+      };
+    },
+    {}
+  );
+
+  // map from english comment text to itself
+  const untranslatableCommentMap = COMMENTS_TO_NOT_TRANSLATE.reduce(
+    (acc, { text }) => {
+      const englishEntry = languages.reduce(
+        (acc, lang) => ({
+          ...acc,
+          [lang]: text
+        }),
+        {}
+      );
+      return {
+        ...acc,
+        [text]: englishEntry
+      };
+    },
+    {}
+  );
+
+  return { ...translatedCommentMap, ...untranslatableCommentMap };
+}
+
+exports.createCommentMap = createCommentMap;
+
+function getTranslationEntry(dicts, { engId, text }) {
+  return Object.keys(dicts).reduce((acc, lang) => {
+    const entry = dicts[lang].find(({ id }) => engId === id);
+    if (entry) {
+      return { ...acc, [lang]: entry.text };
+    } else {
+      throw Error(`Missing translation for comment
+'${text}'
+        with id of ${engId}`);
+    }
+  }, {});
+}
+
 function getChallengesDirForLang(lang) {
   return path.resolve(challengesDir, `./${lang}`);
 }
diff --git a/curriculum/getChallenges.test.js b/curriculum/getChallenges.test.js
index 83228fa00a..e45c4fb665 100644
--- a/curriculum/getChallenges.test.js
+++ b/curriculum/getChallenges.test.js
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 /* global expect beforeAll */
+const path = require('path');
+
 const {
   createChallengeCreator,
-  hasEnglishSourceCreator
+  hasEnglishSourceCreator,
+  createCommentMap
 } = require('./getChallenges');
 
 const EXISTING_CHALLENGE_PATH = 'challenge.md';
@@ -46,4 +49,67 @@ It should be in
       expect(sourceExists).toBe(false);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('createCommentMap', () => {
+    const dictionaryDir = path.resolve(
+      __dirname,
+      '__fixtures__',
+      'dictionaries'
+    );
+    it('returns an object', () => {
+      expect(typeof createCommentMap(dictionaryDir)).toBe('object');
+    });
+
+    it('returns an object with an expected form', () => {
+      expect.assertions(4);
+      const expectedIds = [
+        'To be translated one',
+        'To be translated two',
+        'Not translated one',
+        'Not translated two'
+      ];
+      const map = createCommentMap(dictionaryDir);
+      expect(Object.keys(map)).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(expectedIds));
+
+      const mapValue = map['To be translated one'];
+
+      expect(Object.keys(mapValue)).toEqual(
+        expect.arrayContaining(['chinese', 'spanish'])
+      );
+      expect(typeof mapValue.chinese).toBe('string');
+      expect(typeof mapValue.spanish).toBe('string');
+    });
+
+    it('returns an object with expected values', () => {
+      expect.assertions(9);
+      const expectedIds = [
+        'To be translated one',
+        'To be translated two',
+        'Not translated one',
+        'Not translated two'
+      ];
+      const map = createCommentMap(dictionaryDir);
+      expect(Object.keys(map)).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(expectedIds));
+
+      const translatedOne = map['To be translated one'];
+
+      expect(translatedOne.chinese).toBe('Chinese translation one');
+      expect(translatedOne.spanish).toBe('Spanish translation one');
+
+      const translatedTwo = map['To be translated two'];
+
+      expect(translatedTwo.chinese).toBe('Chinese translation two');
+      expect(translatedTwo.spanish).toBe('Spanish translation two');
+
+      const untranslatedOne = map['Not translated one'];
+
+      expect(untranslatedOne.chinese).toBe('Not translated one');
+      expect(untranslatedOne.spanish).toBe('Not translated one');
+
+      const untranslatedTwo = map['Not translated two'];
+
+      expect(untranslatedTwo.chinese).toBe('Not translated two');
+      expect(untranslatedTwo.spanish).toBe('Not translated two');
+    });
+  });
 });