diff --git a/.npmignore b/.npmignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..64cf1349
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.npmignore
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# npm always includes README* — exclude translations from package
+README.zh-CN.md
+
+# Dev-only script (release is CI/local only)
+scripts/release.sh
+
+# Plugin dev notes (not needed by consumers)
+.claude-plugin/PLUGIN_SCHEMA_NOTES.md