Exclusivebeta

Phrasebook — <mv-phrasebook>

Constrained message composer for places where free text is risky or costly: people write only by picking a template (“{thing} was {quality}”, “Try {action}”, “Watch out for {thing}”) and filling each blank from a fixed, categorized vocabulary, optionally joining a second phrase with a connector (“but”, “so”). Every blank, connector and template switch is a real button that opens a searchable, grouped word picker (combobox + listbox, accent-insensitive search in the displayed and source languages, category filters, source-language glosses); picking auto-advances to the next blank, words carry over when the template changes, and a live preview renders the sentence with its progress (“1 blank left”) and the languages it can be read in (a dashed chip marks a partial translation). The value is structured, not text — { template, slots: { thing: "delivery" }, conjunction, next } — so the app stores ids and renders the message in any locale through a messages dictionary with per-language word order and punctuation (“{first}。{conjunction}、{second}”); nothing typed ever needs moderation or machine translation. Form-associated (JSON form value, required, incomplete messages are invalid), vocabulary from <option>/<optgroup> children, a JSON <script> or properties, cancelable mv-pick to veto a choice, and a companion <mv-phrasebook-message> read view (any locale, helpful / not helpful votes with a cancelable, awaitable mv-rate).

CategoryForms
TypeWeb Component (<mv-phrasebook>)
Statusbeta
Keywordsexclusive, culture, composer, message, feedback, review, templates, vocabulary, constrained-input, moderation, safety, i18n, translation, structured-value, sentence-builder, combobox, vote, helpful, marketplace, community

When to use

Avoid when

Install

node scripts/add.mjs phrasebook --out ./src/marvelous

AI agent with the Marvelous UI MCP server: install_components({ slugs: ["phrasebook"], target_dir: "<absolute path>/src/marvelous", framework: "react" }).

Files copied (dependencies included): tokens/tokens.css, core/base.css, core/dismiss.js, core/dom.js, core/element.js, core/form.js, core/motion.js, core/position.js, components/phrasebook/phrasebook.js, components/phrasebook/phrasebook.css.

Usage

Canonical markup — start from it and customize with attributes, data-* and CSS variables:

<div id="pb-demo" style="width:min(100%,70rem);margin-inline:auto">
  <style>
    #pb-demo { display:grid; gap:1.25rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-card { min-width:0; border:1px solid var(--mv-border); border-radius:var(--mv-radius-xl); background:var(--mv-surface); box-shadow:var(--mv-shadow-xs) }
    #pb-demo .pb-main { display:grid; grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.3fr) minmax(0,1fr) }
    #pb-demo .pb-compose { display:grid; gap:.875rem; align-content:start; margin:0; padding:1.25rem; border-inline-end:1px solid var(--mv-border) }
    #pb-demo .pb-order { display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.75rem; padding:.625rem .75rem; border:1px solid var(--mv-border); border-radius:var(--mv-radius-lg); background:var(--mv-bg-subtle) }
    #pb-demo .pb-thumb { display:grid; place-items:center; flex:none; width:2.75rem; height:2.75rem; border-radius:var(--mv-radius-md); background:color-mix(in oklab, var(--mv-success) 18%, var(--mv-surface)); color:color-mix(in oklab, var(--mv-success), var(--mv-fg) 35%) }
    #pb-demo .pb-thumb svg { width:1.35rem; height:1.35rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-order-text { display:grid; gap:.125rem; flex:1; min-width:0 }
    #pb-demo .pb-order-text strong { font-size:.875rem; letter-spacing:-.01em }
    #pb-demo .pb-order-text span { color:var(--mv-fg-muted); font-size:.75rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-price { font-size:.875rem; font-weight:600; font-variant-numeric:tabular-nums }
    #pb-demo .pb-field { display:grid; gap:.375rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-label { font-size:.875rem; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:-.01em }
    #pb-demo .pb-help { margin:0; color:var(--mv-fg-muted); font-size:.8125rem; line-height:1.45 }
    #pb-demo .pb-actions { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; gap:.75rem 1rem; flex-wrap:wrap }
    #pb-demo .pb-toggle { display:inline-flex; align-items:center; gap:.5rem; color:var(--mv-fg-muted); font-size:.8125rem; cursor:pointer }
    #pb-demo .pb-side { display:grid; gap:1rem; align-content:start; padding:1.25rem; background:var(--mv-bg-subtle); border-radius:0 var(--mv-radius-xl) var(--mv-radius-xl) 0 }
    #pb-demo .pb-side h4, #pb-demo .pb-feed-head h4 { margin:0; font-size:.875rem; letter-spacing:-.01em }
    #pb-demo .pb-side > p { margin:-.625rem 0 0; color:var(--mv-fg-muted); font-size:.8125rem; line-height:1.45 }
    #pb-demo .pb-langs { display:grid; gap:.5rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-lang { display:grid; grid-template-columns:4.75rem minmax(0,1fr); gap:.75rem; align-items:baseline; padding:.625rem .75rem; border:1px solid var(--mv-border); border-radius:var(--mv-radius-lg); background:var(--mv-surface) }
    #pb-demo .pb-k { color:var(--mv-fg-muted); font-size:.6875rem; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:.06em; text-transform:uppercase }
    #pb-demo .pb-lang mv-phrasebook-message { --mv-phrasebook-message-size:.9375rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-lang:has(mv-phrasebook-message[data-empty])::after { content:"—"; color:var(--mv-fg-subtle) }
    #pb-demo pre { margin:.375rem 0 0; padding:.625rem .75rem; max-height:11rem; overflow:auto; border:1px solid var(--mv-border); border-radius:var(--mv-radius-md); background:var(--mv-surface); color:var(--mv-fg-muted); font:400 .6875rem/1.55 var(--mv-font-mono); white-space:pre-wrap; word-break:break-word }
    #pb-demo .pb-log { margin:0; min-height:1.1rem; color:var(--mv-fg-subtle); font:400 .75rem/1.5 var(--mv-font-mono) }
    #pb-demo .pb-feed-card { padding:1.125rem 1.25rem 1.25rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-feed-head { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; gap:.75rem 1rem; flex-wrap:wrap; margin-bottom:.875rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-feed-head > div { display:flex; align-items:center; gap:.5rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-feed { display:grid; gap:.5rem; margin:0; padding:0; list-style:none }
    #pb-demo .pb-item { display:grid; grid-template-columns:auto minmax(0,1fr); gap:.25rem .75rem; align-items:start }
    #pb-demo .pb-av { display:grid; place-items:center; width:2rem; height:2rem; margin-top:.25rem; border-radius:50%; background:var(--mv-bg-emphasis); color:var(--mv-fg); font-size:.6875rem; font-weight:600 }
    #pb-demo .pb-who { display:flex; align-items:baseline; gap:.5rem; flex-wrap:wrap; font-size:.75rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-who strong { font-size:.8125rem }
    #pb-demo .pb-who span { color:var(--mv-fg-subtle) }
    #pb-demo .pb-body { display:grid; gap:.25rem; min-width:0 }
    #pb-demo .pb-item[data-new] mv-phrasebook-message { border-color:color-mix(in oklab, var(--mv-accent) 45%, var(--mv-border)) }
    @media (max-width:52rem) {
      #pb-demo .pb-main { grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1fr) }
      #pb-demo .pb-compose { border-inline-end:0; border-bottom:1px solid var(--mv-border) }
      #pb-demo .pb-side { border-radius:0 0 var(--mv-radius-xl) var(--mv-radius-xl) }
    }
  </style>

  <!-- 1 · Marketplace seller feedback: structured, safe, readable in every language -->
  <section class="pb-card pb-main" aria-label="Order feedback">
    <form class="pb-compose" id="pb-form">
      <div class="pb-order">
        <span class="pb-thumb" aria-hidden="true"><svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.8" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"><path d="M8 3 4 6l2 4 2-1v12h8V9l2 1 2-4-4-3c-.5 1.5-2 2.5-4 2.5S8.5 4.5 8 3Z"/></svg></span>
        <span class="pb-order-text">
          <strong>Linen overshirt · Sage, M</strong>
          <span>Sold by Atelier Nord · Delivered Sep 18, 2026</span>
        </span>
        <span class="pb-price">$68.00</span>
      </div>

      <div class="pb-field">
        <label class="pb-label" for="pb-book">Leave feedback for the seller</label>
        <p class="pb-help" id="pb-help">Pick a phrase and fill the blanks. Buyers read it in their own language, and nothing needs moderation.</p>
      </div>

      <mv-phrasebook id="pb-book" name="feedback" required aria-describedby="pb-help"
        value='{"template":"was","slots":{"thing":"delivery","quality":"on-time"},"conjunction":"but","next":{"template":"better","slots":{"thing":"packaging"}}}'>
        <option data-template="was" data-group="Describe">{thing} was {quality}</option>
        <option data-template="better" data-group="Describe">{thing} could be better</option>
        <option data-template="watch" data-group="Advise">Watch out for {thing}</option>
        <option data-template="try" data-group="Advise">Try {action}</option>
        <option data-template="great-for" data-group="Recommend">Great for {use}</option>

        <option data-type="thing">aspect</option>
        <option data-type="quality">quality</option>
        <option data-type="action">tip</option>
        <option data-type="use">occasion</option>

        <optgroup label="Shipping" data-word="thing">
          <option value="delivery">delivery</option>
          <option value="packaging">packaging</option>
          <option value="tracking">tracking</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Product" data-word="thing">
          <option value="fabric" data-keywords="material linen">the fabric</option>
          <option value="fit" data-keywords="size sizing">the fit</option>
          <option value="color" data-keywords="colour shade">the color</option>
          <option value="stitching" data-keywords="seams finish">the stitching</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Seller" data-word="thing">
          <option value="communication" data-keywords="reply answer contact">communication</option>
          <option value="returns" data-keywords="refund exchange">the return process</option>
          <option value="value" data-keywords="price cost">value for money</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Positive" data-word="quality">
          <option value="excellent">excellent</option>
          <option value="flawless">flawless</option>
          <option value="on-time" data-keywords="fast quick punctual">on time</option>
          <option value="better-than-expected">better than expected</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Neutral" data-word="quality">
          <option value="as-described">as described</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Negative" data-word="quality">
          <option value="disappointing" data-keywords="bad poor">disappointing</option>
          <option value="below-average" data-keywords="bad poor worse">below average</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Before you buy" data-word="action">
          <option value="size-up">sizing up</option>
          <option value="size-guide">reading the size guide</option>
          <option value="ask-first" data-keywords="message contact question">messaging the seller first</option>
          <option value="express" data-keywords="shipping fast">choosing express shipping</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="After it arrives" data-word="action">
          <option value="wash-cold" data-keywords="laundry care">washing it cold</option>
        </optgroup>
        <optgroup label="Occasions" data-word="use">
          <option value="gifts">gifts</option>
          <option value="everyday">everyday wear</option>
          <option value="travel">travel</option>
          <option value="warm-weather" data-keywords="summer heat">warm weather</option>
        </optgroup>

        <option data-conjunction="and">and</option>
        <option data-conjunction="but">but</option>
        <option data-conjunction="so">so</option>
        <option data-conjunction="by-the-way">by the way</option>

        <script type="application/json" data-phrasebook>
        { "messages": {
          "es": {
            "templates": { "was": "{thing} fue {quality}", "better": "{thing} podría mejorar", "watch": "Cuidado con {thing}", "try": "Prueba a {action}", "great-for": "Ideal para {use}" },
            "words": {
              "delivery": "la entrega", "packaging": "el embalaje", "tracking": "el seguimiento",
              "fabric": "la tela", "fit": "el ajuste", "color": "el color", "stitching": "la costura",
              "communication": "la comunicación", "returns": "el proceso de devolución", "value": "la relación calidad-precio",
              "excellent": "excelente", "flawless": "impecable", "on-time": "puntual", "better-than-expected": "mejor de lo esperado",
              "as-described": "como se describía", "disappointing": "decepcionante", "below-average": "inferior a la media",
              "size-up": "pedir una talla más", "size-guide": "leer la guía de tallas", "ask-first": "escribir antes al vendedor", "express": "elegir envío exprés", "wash-cold": "lavarla en frío",
              "gifts": "regalar", "everyday": "el día a día", "travel": "viajar", "warm-weather": "el calor"
            },
            "conjunctions": { "and": "y", "but": "pero", "so": "así que", "by-the-way": "por cierto" }
          },
          "ja": {
            "templates": { "was": "{thing}は{quality}でした", "better": "{thing}は改善の余地あり", "watch": "{thing}に注意", "try": "{action}がおすすめ", "great-for": "{use}におすすめ" },
            "words": {
              "delivery": "配送", "packaging": "梱包", "tracking": "追跡情報",
              "fabric": "生地", "fit": "サイズ感", "color": "色", "stitching": "縫製",
              "communication": "連絡", "returns": "返品対応", "value": "コスパ",
              "excellent": "最高", "flawless": "完璧", "on-time": "時間どおり", "better-than-expected": "期待以上",
              "as-described": "説明どおり", "disappointing": "期待外れ", "below-average": "平均以下",
              "size-up": "ワンサイズ上", "size-guide": "サイズ表の確認", "ask-first": "購入前の問い合わせ", "express": "速達配送", "wash-cold": "冷水での洗濯",
              "gifts": "ギフト", "everyday": "普段使い", "travel": "旅行", "warm-weather": "暑い日"
            },
            "conjunctions": { "and": "そして", "but": "でも", "so": "なので", "by-the-way": "ちなみに" },
            "format": { "join": "{first}。{conjunction}、{second}", "end": "。" }
          }
        } }
        </script>
      </mv-phrasebook>

      <div class="pb-actions">
        <label class="pb-toggle"><input type="checkbox" role="switch" class="mv-switch" id="pb-two" checked> Allow a second phrase</label>
        <span style="display:flex;gap:.5rem">
          <button type="reset" class="mv-button" data-variant="ghost">Reset</button>
          <button type="submit" class="mv-button">Post feedback</button>
        </span>
      </div>
    </form>

    <aside class="pb-side" aria-labelledby="pb-side-title">
      <h4 id="pb-side-title">How other buyers read it</h4>
      <p>The same stored message, rendered from each reader's dictionary.</p>
      <div class="pb-langs">
        <div class="pb-lang"><span class="pb-k">English</span><mv-phrasebook-message id="pb-en" for="pb-book" locale="en" rating="none" data-variant="plain"></mv-phrasebook-message></div>
        <div class="pb-lang"><span class="pb-k">Spanish</span><mv-phrasebook-message id="pb-es" for="pb-book" locale="es" rating="none" data-variant="plain"></mv-phrasebook-message></div>
        <div class="pb-lang"><span class="pb-k">Japanese</span><mv-phrasebook-message id="pb-ja" for="pb-book" locale="ja" rating="none" data-variant="plain"></mv-phrasebook-message></div>
      </div>
      <div>
        <span class="pb-k">Stored value</span>
        <pre id="pb-json"></pre>
      </div>
      <p class="pb-log" id="pb-log" aria-live="polite"></p>
    </aside>
  </section>

  <!-- 2 · The seller's feed: every message rendered in the reader's language, rated helpful or not -->
  <section class="pb-card pb-feed-card" aria-labelledby="pb-feed-title">
    <header class="pb-feed-head">
      <div>
        <h4 id="pb-feed-title">Recent feedback · Atelier Nord</h4>
        <span class="mv-badge" data-variant="secondary" id="pb-count">3 messages</span>
      </div>
      <mv-segmented id="pb-readas" label="Read feedback in" value="en">
        <button value="en">English</button>
        <button value="es">Spanish</button>
        <button value="ja">Japanese</button>
      </mv-segmented>
    </header>
    <ul class="pb-feed" id="pb-feed">
      <li class="pb-item">
        <span class="pb-av" aria-hidden="true">PS</span>
        <div class="pb-body">
          <span class="pb-who"><strong>Priya Shah</strong><span>Toronto · Sep 12, 2026</span></span>
          <mv-phrasebook-message for="pb-book" locale="en" up="41" down="2" vote="up"
            value='{"template":"try","slots":{"action":"size-up"}}'></mv-phrasebook-message>
        </div>
      </li>
      <li class="pb-item">
        <span class="pb-av" aria-hidden="true">KM</span>
        <div class="pb-body">
          <span class="pb-who"><strong>Kenji Morita</strong><span>Osaka · Sep 9, 2026</span></span>
          <mv-phrasebook-message for="pb-book" locale="en" up="18" down="0"
            value='{"template":"was","slots":{"thing":"stitching","quality":"flawless"},"conjunction":"but","next":{"template":"watch","slots":{"thing":"fit"}}}'></mv-phrasebook-message>
        </div>
      </li>
      <li class="pb-item">
        <span class="pb-av" aria-hidden="true">LR</span>
        <div class="pb-body">
          <span class="pb-who"><strong>Lucía Romero</strong><span>Valencia · Sep 4, 2026</span></span>
          <mv-phrasebook-message for="pb-book" locale="en" up="7" down="3" vote="down"
            value='{"template":"was","slots":{"thing":"tracking","quality":"disappointing"},"conjunction":"so","next":{"template":"try","slots":{"action":"ask-first"}}}'></mv-phrasebook-message>
        </div>
      </li>
    </ul>
  </section>

  <script type="module">
    const book = document.getElementById("pb-book");
    const form = document.getElementById("pb-form");
    const json = document.getElementById("pb-json");
    const log = document.getElementById("pb-log");
    const feed = document.getElementById("pb-feed");
    const readAs = document.getElementById("pb-readas");
    const count = document.getElementById("pb-count");
    const previews = ["pb-en", "pb-es", "pb-ja"].map((id) => document.getElementById(id));

    const show = () => {
      const value = book.value;
      for (const el of previews) el.value = value;
      json.textContent = value ? JSON.stringify(value, null, 2) : "null";
    };
    customElements.whenDefined("mv-phrasebook").then(() => requestAnimationFrame(show));
    book.addEventListener("mv-change", (e) => {
      show();
      log.textContent = e.detail.complete ? `Ready: “${e.detail.text}”` : `Draft (${e.detail.reason})`;
    });
    // "reset" fires before the fields are restored: allow two phrases again so the default message comes back whole.
    form.addEventListener("reset", () => { book.maxClauses = 2; requestAnimationFrame(show); log.textContent = "Reset to the saved draft."; });

    // The app can veto a pick: here, "by the way" cannot follow a negative remark.
    book.addEventListener("mv-pick", (e) => {
      const v = book.value;
      if (e.detail.kind === "conjunction" && e.detail.id === "by-the-way" && ["disappointing", "below-average"].includes(v?.slots?.quality)) {
        e.preventDefault();
        log.textContent = "Blocked: “by the way” can't follow a negative remark.";
      }
    });

    document.getElementById("pb-two").addEventListener("change", (e) => {
      book.maxClauses = e.target.checked ? 2 : 1;
      show();
    });

    form.addEventListener("submit", (e) => {
      e.preventDefault();
      if (!book.checkValidity()) { book.reportValidity(); return; }
      const li = document.createElement("li");
      li.className = "pb-item";
      li.dataset.new = "";
      const av = Object.assign(document.createElement("span"), { className: "pb-av", textContent: "You" });
      av.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
      const body = Object.assign(document.createElement("div"), { className: "pb-body" });
      const who = Object.assign(document.createElement("span"), { className: "pb-who" });
      who.append(Object.assign(document.createElement("strong"), { textContent: "You" }),
        Object.assign(document.createElement("span"), { textContent: `Just now · ${new Date().toLocaleDateString("en-US", { month: "short", day: "numeric", year: "numeric" })}` }));
      const msg = book.render(book.value, { locale: readAs.value, rating: "votes", up: 0, down: 0 });
      body.append(who, msg);
      li.append(av, body);
      feed.prepend(li);
      count.textContent = `${feed.children.length} messages`;
      log.textContent = "Posted. Readers see it in their language.";
      book.clear();
      show();
    });

    readAs.addEventListener("mv-change", (e) => {
      for (const m of feed.querySelectorAll("mv-phrasebook-message")) m.setAttribute("locale", e.detail.value);
    });

    // Votes: optimistic, confirmed by a fake API round trip.
    feed.addEventListener("mv-rate", (e) => {
      e.detail.waitUntil(new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 350)));
    });
  </script>
</div>

Cultural reference

Demon's Souls — FromSoftware (directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki) (2009, game). Players leave messages for strangers, but only by combining a fixed template with words from a fixed vocabulary, which keeps every message safe, short and readable in every language, and other players rate them. In the UI, a message is composed from app-declared templates and word lists, stored as ids so each reader sees it in their own language, and rated helpful or not.

API

Attributes

NameTypeDefaultDescription
namestringForm field name. The submitted value is the structured message as JSON (nothing when empty).
valueJSON stringInitial message, e.g. '{"template":"try","slots":{"action":"size-up"}}'. Restored by a form reset.
requiredbooleanAn empty composer is invalid (valueMissing). A started but incomplete message is always invalid (badInput), required or not.
disabledbooleanDisables every piece (also via <fieldset disabled>).
labelstringAccessible name of the sentence group when no <label for> points at the element.
localeBCP 47 tagLanguage the composer displays words and templates in (falls back from "es-MX" to "es", then to the source labels). The stored value never changes with it.
source-localeBCP 47 tagenLanguage of the declared labels (used for the preview's language chips, glosses and capitalization rules).
max-clausesnumber2How many phrases can be chained with connectors. 1 hides “Add a second phrase”; lowering it trims extra phrases.
placementbottom-start | bottom | top-start …bottom-startPreferred side of the word picker relative to the piece that opened it (flips and shifts to stay in the viewport).
data-variant"plain"Drops the card frame (border, background, padding) to embed the composer in your own container.
data-empty / data-complete / data-openstateSet by the component: nothing chosen yet, every blank filled, a picker is open.

Properties

NameTypeDescription
value{ template, slots: Record<string, string>, conjunction?, next? } | nullThe structured message: template id, word id per blank name, and an optional chained phrase. Accepts an object or a JSON string; null or "" clears. Unknown ids are kept and shown as blanks until the vocabulary knows them.
textstringThe message rendered as plain text in the current locale (read-only).
completebooleanTrue when every template, blank and connector is filled (read-only).
templatesArray<{ id, text, group?, keepCase?, keywords? }>Templates. Blanks are written {name}, or {name:type} / {name:type|other} when the name differs from the accepted word types (two blanks of the same type need two names). Replaces the <option data-template> children.
wordsArray<{ id, label, type, group?, keywords? }>Vocabulary. type decides which blanks accept the word, group is the picker category. Labels are written as they appear mid-sentence (“the fabric”); the first letter of a message is capitalized automatically.
conjunctionsArray<{ id, label }>Connectors that join phrases. None means a single phrase.
typesRecord<string, string>Human label of each word type, shown in empty blanks and in the picker (“aspect”, “tip”). Defaults to the type id.
messagesRecord<locale, { templates?, words?, conjunctions?, types?, groups?, format?: { join, end } }>Dictionaries keyed by locale. Templates reorder blanks by name (“{thing}は{quality}でした”); format.join places the connector (default "{first}, {conjunction} {second}") and format.end the final punctuation (default "."). Missing entries fall back to the source labels and are reported as untranslated.
localesstring[]Source locale followed by every dictionary key (read-only).
bookobjectThe normalized phrasebook (read-only), accepted by <mv-phrasebook-message>.source and formatPhrase().
stringsPartial<Record<string, string>>Overrides for the component's own UI text (choosePhrase, addClause, preview, readsIn, clear, searchWords ({type}), noMatch ({query}), blanksLeft ({n}), ready, valueMissing, incomplete…). English defaults.

Methods

NameDescription
format(value?, locale?)Plain-text rendering of a message (defaults: current value and locale).
render(value?, { locale?, rating?, up?, down?, vote? })Returns a new <mv-phrasebook-message> bound to this phrasebook, ready to insert in a feed.
open({ clause?, slot?, part? })Opens the picker of a piece (part: "template" | "conjunction"); with no argument, the first unfilled piece.
close() / clear() / focus()Closes the picker; resets to an empty composer (emits mv-change with reason "clear"); focuses the first unfilled piece.
checkValidity() / reportValidity()Native constraint validation; the validation bubble points at the first unfilled piece.
formatPhrase(value, book, { locale, sourceLocale }) (module export)Pure, SSR-safe text rendering from a plain phrasebook object; phraseParts() returns the parts, completeness and untranslated ids.

Events

NameDescription
mv-pickCancelable, before a choice is applied. detail: { kind: "template" | "word" | "conjunction", id, clause, slot }. preventDefault() refuses it (the picker stays open and says why), e.g. to block a combination.
mv-changeThe message changed through the UI. detail: { value, text, complete, reason: "template" | "word" | "conjunction" | "add" | "remove" | "clear" | "clear-piece", clause?, slot?, id? }.
mv-open / mv-closeThe word picker opened (detail: { kind, clause, slot }) or closed.
mv-vocabularyThe phrasebook (re)loaded its vocabulary. detail: { book }. Bound <mv-phrasebook-message> elements repaint on it.
mv-rate (on mv-phrasebook-message)Cancelable, before a vote is applied. detail: { vote: "up" | "down" | null (vote removed), previous, up, down, value, waitUntil(promise) }. The counts update at once; a rejected waitUntil promise rolls them back and emits mv-rate-error { vote, previous, error }.

Content structure

NameDescription
(children <option data-template>)<option data-template="was" data-group="Describe">{thing} was {quality}</option>; data-keep-case keeps its first letter when it follows a connector.
(children <option data-word> / <optgroup data-word>)Words: <optgroup label="Shipping" data-word="thing"><option value="delivery">delivery</option></optgroup> (the optgroup label is the category; value is the id, defaulting to the slugified text). data-keywords adds search synonyms.
(children <option data-conjunction> / <option data-type>)Connectors (<option data-conjunction="but">but</option>) and type labels (<option data-type="thing">aspect</option>).
(child <script type="application/json" data-phrasebook>)The same data as JSON: { templates, words, conjunctions, types, messages, format }. Children stay in the DOM (hidden) and are re-read when they change.

CSS classes

NameDescription
mv-phrasebook-clause / -line / -textOne phrase row (role=group), its sentence line and the template's literal words.
mv-phrasebook-pieceEvery interactive part of the sentence (data-kind="template | slot | conjunction", data-empty, data-open, data-fresh right after a pick): -template (switcher, or -start when the phrase is empty), -slot, -conjunction; -join is the connector rail, -remove and -add manage phrases.
mv-phrasebook-previewLive preview: -preview-text (-preview-word, -preview-conjunction, -preview-blank), -progress, -locales / -locale (data-partial), -clear.
mv-phrasebook-popupWord picker (Popover API, data-kind): -search, -search-input (role=combobox), -filters / -filter (aria-pressed), -list (role=listbox), -group, -option (data-active, aria-selected), -option-gloss, -option-blank, -match, -empty, -hint.
mv-phrasebook-messageRead view element <mv-phrasebook-message for locale value up down vote rating>: -message-text (-message-word, -message-conjunction), -rating (role=group), -vote (data-vote, aria-pressed), -count. rating="votes" (default), "readonly" or "none"; data-variant="plain" drops the frame.

CSS variables

NameDefaultDescription
--mv-phrasebook-wordvar(--mv-accent)Tint of filled blanks, focus of empty ones and the start icon.
--mv-phrasebook-connectorvar(--mv-fg-muted)Text color of connector pills.
--mv-phrasebook-font-size1.0625remSize of the sentence line in the composer.
--mv-phrasebook-list-height15remMaximum height of the picker list.
--mv-phrasebook-helpfulvar(--mv-accent)Tint of a pressed “helpful” vote.
--mv-phrasebook-message-sizevar(--mv-text-sm)Text size of the read view.

Accessibility

The sentence is a labelled group (from <label for>, label or aria-label) of one group per phrase; every blank, connector and template switch is a native <button> with aria-haspopup="listbox", aria-expanded and a name that states what it holds (“Aspect: delivery”, “Aspect: empty”, “Connector: but”, “Change phrase (____ was ____)”), so the visible word is always part of the accessible name. Tab walks the sentence in reading order; Left/Right (mirrored in RTL), Home and End move between pieces; Enter, Space or Down opens a piece, typing a letter opens it with that letter searched, Backspace/Delete empties it (on a later phrase's switcher, removes the phrase). The picker is a labelled dialog around a real combobox input (aria-controls, aria-activedescendant) and a grouped listbox with aria-selected: Up/Down move, Page Up/Down jump between categories, Left/Right switch the category filter while the search is empty, Enter picks, Escape or Alt+Up close and return focus to the piece, Tab closes and moves on. Picking moves focus to the next empty blank of the same phrase (and opens it) or back to the piece, and a polite live region announces the word and the whole sentence; result counts and refused picks are announced inside the picker. Rendered sentences carry the lang of their locale so screen readers switch pronunciation; blanks read as “blank aspect”. Validity uses ElementInternals: required gives valueMissing, a started message with blanks gives badInput with “Fill in every blank before sending (1 blank left)”, anchored to the first empty piece. In <mv-phrasebook-message>, the votes are toggle buttons (aria-pressed) with visible counts and hidden “Helpful” / “Not helpful” names inside a labelled group, aria-busy while a waitUntil promise runs. Colors always come with shape: empty blanks are dashed and italic, partial translations have a dashed chip and a dot, votes fill their icon. Reduced motion (OS or data-motion="reduce"): no pop, no row entrance, counts and the picker change instantly. Forced colors: pieces get ButtonText borders, the active option a Highlight outline, pressed votes Highlight.