For patent applicants, IP law firms and R&D teams
Chinese Patent Translation Services
Patent applications, claims, prior art and IP dispute documents, translated between Chinese, English and 40+ languages. Work with specialist linguists and our team in Shanghai, coordinating the translation with your patent counsel.
English → Chinese for filings and prosecution. Chinese → English for research, portfolio review and disputes.
An NDA can be discussed before you share unpublished documents.
What is Chinese patent translation?
Chinese patent translation converts patent applications and related IP documents between Chinese and another language. It covers claims, descriptions, abstracts, drawing text and patent-office correspondence, as well as published patents used for research or disputes. The required scope, terminology, revision and format depend on the document’s intended use and the instructions of the applicant or patent counsel.
What do you need the translation for?
A filing, a technical assessment and a dispute require different instructions. Start with the intended use so we can scope the right service.
| Your purpose | What the translation supports | What we agree before starting |
|---|---|---|
| Filing & prosecution | Prepare a translation for an application, national-phase entry or an office-action response. | Patent office, reference version, required pieces and counsel-confirmed deadline. Request a filing quote |
| Prior art & IP research | Understand Chinese patents for technical research, portfolio review or due diligence. | Publication numbers, full documents or selected sections, terminology and delivery format. Discuss a research project |
| Disputes & litigation | Translate patent-related evidence and correspondence for review by your legal team. | Jurisdiction, evidence set, version control and any certification instructions. Discuss a dispute document |
Filing a patent in China: translation requirements
For a non-Chinese PCT application entering China, the translation covers the required application documents, including the request, description, claims, abstract and text in drawings. Your patent agent confirms the versions and amendments to use.
A translation coordinated with your patent agent
HI-COM prepares the language deliverables. Patent counsel determines the filing strategy, procedural requirements and submission. Foreign applicants without a habitual residence or business office in China must use a legally established patent agency for Chinese patent matters.
Procedural references checked 29 October 2026: WIPO China PCT guide and Chinese Patent Law, Article 18. These periods concern PCT national-phase entry, not every filing route.
Prepare a China filing enquiryChinese-to-English patent translation and international filings
A language partner for both directions of your patent work.
Understand Chinese patents in English
Translate published applications, granted patents, technical descriptions and selected claims for prior-art review, portfolio assessment and disputes. We agree whether you need a complete document or specified sections, with references and technical terms kept consistent.
For legal conclusions, scope-of-protection analysis or a filing decision, your IP advisers review the translated material in its procedural context.
Discuss Chinese-to-English translationEnglish, Chinese and 40+ languages
Coordinate translations for international applications, European patent work and other national filings. Specify the destination, procedure and reference version so that the language work follows your counsel’s instructions.
European national validation and Unitary Patent procedures have different translation requirements. We scope the required text and languages with your advisers.
EPO national validation · Unitary Patent translation arrangements
See our language coveragePatent documents we translate
Send related documents together so that the same terms, references and versions can be managed across the project.
- Patent applications and specificationsDescriptions, claims, abstracts and text contained in drawings.
- Claims and amended claim setsIndependent and dependent claims, reference versions and defined terminology.
- Office actions and prosecution correspondenceExamination communications, responses and supporting technical material.
- Prior art and search materialPublished patents, cited references and search or examination reports.
- Opposition and dispute documentsPatent-related evidence, correspondence and technical submissions for counsel’s review.
- Related IP and technical documentsAssignments, licensing-related documents and supporting specifications within the agreed scope.
Files and deliverables. Share editable source files where available, alongside reference PDFs. We agree the final format, bilingual layout if requested, drawing-text handling and any reconstruction needed for scans. Required filing templates and technical constraints should be supplied at the start.
How do we keep patent claims consistent?
A term chosen in a claim needs to remain recognisable in the description and drawings. We use your approved references, client terminology and translation memories to support that continuity.
English · Illustrative claim excerpt
An apparatus comprising a housing (10) and a fastening member (12).
中文 · Corresponding terminology
一种装置，包括壳体（10）和紧固件（12）。
| Reference | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | housing | 壳体 |
| 12 | fastening member | 紧固件 |
What the revision checks
- One term across the document set
Check agreed terminology across the description, claims, abstract and related correspondence.
- Numbering and cross-references
Review claim dependencies, paragraph numbers, drawing labels, units and figure references.
- A controlled reference version
Identify the source file and amendments to translate. Questions and subsequent changes are tracked with the project team.
- A second-linguist revision
Revise against the source under the ISO 17100 translation workflow; coordinate technical or legal queries with your advisers.
Our patent translation process
A project manager coordinates the work from the initial brief to delivery. Your patent advisers remain involved in procedural and legal decisions.
Define the purpose
Confirm the language pair, intended use, office or jurisdiction, documents and required delivery date.
Agree scope and confidentiality
Discuss an NDA and file-transfer arrangements where needed. We then assess the files and provide a quote and schedule.
Prepare the terminology
Review your glossary, earlier translations and technical references; identify the source version and open questions.
Translate and revise
A specialist translator handles the content and a second linguist revises it against the source.
Resolve project questions
Coordinate terminology and document-version queries with your team or patent counsel, then apply agreed changes.
Deliver the agreed files
Complete the final document checks and deliver the translation in the agreed format. Any later scope changes are reviewed with you.
Technical fields and specialist selection
Tell us the invention’s technical field and intended use. We match the language work to the subject and confirm any additional specialist review required for the project.
- Mechanical engineering
- Electronics & telecommunications
- Chemistry & materials
- Biotechnology
- Medical devices
- Software & information technology
For specifications, technical drawings and wider product documentation, explore technical translation services.
Confidentiality for unpublished patent documents
Start with the language pair, technical field and purpose of the work. An initial enquiry can be made before sharing the invention itself.
Discuss the NDA before the files
HI-COM can discuss a non-disclosure agreement before receiving confidential patent material. Tell us about your organisation’s NDA, authorised recipients and document-handling requirements so we can agree the project arrangements.
We also clarify whether the source is published, which version is authoritative and what information can be used as reference material during the work.
Ask about an NDAWorking with IP law firms and in-house teams
We can coordinate translation instructions and terminology queries with patent attorneys, IP formalities teams and your technical specialists. Agree who will approve the reference version and receive questions at the start.
The brief should identify the intended filing or review use, required format and counsel-confirmed deadline.
Credentials behind the translation workflow
Published credentials support the service process and professional affiliation.
ISO 17100 certified
HI-COM’s translation process includes qualified linguists and revision by a second linguist. This is a translation service credential; your patent office determines procedural acceptance.
Review our process
Translators Association of China
HI-COM’s institutional TAC membership has been renewed, with the current certificate valid until 22 September 2028.
Read the membership updatePatent translation questions
Answers for applicants, law firms and technical teams planning a translation.
What does a Chinese patent translation service include?
The service can cover patent applications, claims, descriptions, abstracts, drawing text, office actions and related IP documents. The agreed scope depends on whether the translation is for filing, prosecution, research or a dispute, and on the instructions of the applicant or patent counsel.
Does a Chinese patent filing need a full translation?
For a non-Chinese PCT application entering China, the required Chinese translation covers the application documents, including description, claims, abstract and drawing text. Your agent confirms the exact pieces and versions; a summary alone is insufficient.
What is the deadline for PCT national-phase entry in China?
The normal period is 30 months from the priority date. Late entry before 32 months may be possible with a surcharge. Ask your patent agent to confirm the deadline and required acts for your application.
What is CNIPA?
CNIPA stands for the China National Intellectual Property Administration. It is responsible for patent administration in mainland China. HI-COM prepares translations for the relevant project; representation and filing decisions remain with the applicant and qualified patent counsel.
Who should translate a patent?
Choose a translator with the relevant language and technical expertise, supported by a revision process and clear instructions from patent counsel. HI-COM matches specialist linguists to the project and coordinates terminology and reference-version questions with your team.
Does a patent translation need to be certified or sworn?
Not automatically. Requirements depend on the office, jurisdiction and procedure. The PCT national-phase guidance does not generally require public certification or a sworn translator at entry, although an office may request certification in certain circumstances. Share your counsel’s instructions before commissioning the work.
How do you keep claim terminology consistent?
We review your glossary, prior translations and reference documents, then check terms across the claims, description, abstract and drawing text. Revision also addresses numbering, dependencies and references. Agreed terminology can be maintained for related documents and later versions.
Can you translate Chinese patents into English for prior-art research?
Yes. We translate Chinese patent documents into English for research, portfolio review, due diligence and disputes. Tell us whether you need the complete document or selected sections, and how your team will use the translation.
Do you work with patent attorneys and IP law firms?
Yes. We can coordinate translation briefs, reference versions and terminology questions with patent attorneys, IP formalities teams and in-house legal or R&D teams. Legal and procedural approvals remain with the relevant advisers.
How much does patent translation cost?
The quote depends on the language pair, volume, technical field, intended use, deadline, reference quality and formatting. Send a project outline to request a same-day quote. Confidential source files can be shared after any required NDA and transfer arrangements have been agreed.
How long does a patent translation take?
The delivery schedule depends on the document volume, technical complexity, language pair, revision and formatting. We confirm a project timeline after reviewing the scope. A same-day quote is a response commitment for the enquiry, not a promise to translate every patent in one day.
Can we agree an NDA before sending an unpublished application?
Yes. Start with a general description of the project and request an NDA. We can discuss confidentiality and file-transfer arrangements before you share unpublished patent documents.
Filing references: WIPO China national phase · WIPO national-phase guidance. Confirm the requirements of your own procedure with patent counsel.
Tell us what the translation needs to do
Get a patent translation quote.
Share your project outline for a same-day quote and a delivery schedule based on your documents.
- Source and target languages
- Filing, prosecution, reference or dispute use
- Office or jurisdiction and counsel-confirmed deadline
- Document types, volume and reference version
- NDA and document-handling requirements
For an unpublished application, start with the outline and discuss the NDA before sharing files.
Scan to discuss your project with the HI-COM team.