Amid globalization, culturally rich traditional ethnic visual symbols often face semantic dilution or misinterpretation in cross-cultural communication. Focusing on the butterfly motifs of Miao embroidery, this study investigates how visual translation design can enhance the cross-cultural comprehensibility of ethnic symbols while preserving their cultural authenticity. Through literature review and theoretical analysis, the study integrates semiotics and cross-cultural communication theories to construct a three-stage analytical framework: “symbolic decoding–cross-cultural analysis–principle induction.” Based on this framework, the paper proposes three specific translation principles—visual simplification, cultural semantic reconstruction, and contextualized communication—alongside a systematic translation framework. While the three principles address specific communication barriers at the levels of visual form, cultural meaning, and communication context, the framework integrates them into a progressive operational path: “visual form optimization–cultural semantic reconstruction–communication context adaptation.” Ultimately, this framework not only applies to Miao embroidery but also provides a theoretical and design reference for the cross-cultural communication of other traditional ethnic visual symbols rooted in specific cultural contexts.