The One Most Important Thing in Vietnamese Patent Translation

The One Most Important Thing in Vietnamese Patent Translation

If we had to name a single priority, it is this: Preserve the claimed scope and its technical support/enablement exactly as in the source—do not broaden or narrow it. Every translation choice—terminology, claim syntax, numbers and units—must serve this goal.

1) Why “scope + support” is paramount

  • Legal impact: scope defines rights. Loose wording can cause impermissible broadening or harmful narrowing.
  • Enablement: the description must let a PHOSITA carry out the invention. Misrendered passages jeopardize feasibility.
  • Examination reality: examiners cross-check description–drawings–claims; small inconsistencies trigger office actions.

2) Five pillars to keep scope intact

(A) Claims discipline

  • comprising → “bao gồm” (open), consisting of → “gồm” (closed).
  • configured/adapted/operable to → “được cấu hình/được thiết kế/khả dĩ để …” (avoid purpose-like “nhằm”).
  • List with semicolons + line breaks; do not merge/split clauses.
  • Preserve dependency, numbering, and cross-references exactly.

(B) Terminology consistency

  • One concept = one term across description–claims–drawings.
  • Choose by industry context (e.g., “cấu hình” for electronics; “kết cấu/tạo hình” for mechanics; IUPAC for chemistry).

(C) Numbers, units, symbols

  • SI units; keep symbols (≤, ≥, ±, Δ).
  • Decimal comma in Vietnamese: EN 2.5 cm → VI 2,5 cm.
  • Ranges with en‑dash: 5–10%. No “rounding” or inferred scope changes.

(D) Drawings & references

  • Preserve FIG. labels and reference numerals exactly; in text you may say “Hình X” but keep a 1‑to‑1 mapping.
  • PattransVN Format 2.0 for drawing pages: i/N header, centered, 16 pt (e.g., 1/7, 2/7 …).

(E) Filing format (file‑ready)

  • A4, 2 cm margins; Times New Roman 14 pt, 1.5 line spacing, justified, 1 cm first‑line indent.
  • Order: Technical Field → Background → Summary → Brief Description of Drawings → Detailed Description → CLAIMS → ABSTRACT (last two in ALL CAPS, each on a new page).

3) A scope‑locking workflow

  1. Start with claims: mark essential elements, ranges, and conditions.
  2. Decide “difficult pairs” early (configured/adapted; range; at least one of…).
  3. Translate description with claims in view; stabilize terms as they appear.
  4. Technical review: check numerals, schematics, equations; verify each claim feature has support.
  5. Legal & linguistic review: comprising/consisting; listing syntax; “at least one of …”.
  6. Format check: layout, numbering, embedded fonts; decimal comma (2,5 not 2.5).
  7. Final scope check: read claims → back to description; ensure every claim feature is backed.

4) Small mistakes with big costs

  • Rendering comprising as “gồm” (closed) → scope shrink.
  • Translating “configured to” as “nhằm” → purpose replaces structural capability.
  • Numeric drift (2.5 ↔ 2,5; unit changes) → misinterpreted magnitudes.
  • Broken mapping between “Hình” and FIG./numerals.
  • Term inconsistency (multiple labels for one concept).
  • Over‑editing (adding advantages not in the source).

5) Quick pre‑filing checklist (PattransVN)

  • Claims: correct open/closed terms; dependencies clear; no scope alteration.
  • Terminology consistent across description–claims–drawings.
  • SI units; 2,5 instead of 2.5 in Vietnamese; 5–10%; symbols intact.
  • Drawings: FIG./numerals 1‑to‑1 with text; drawing pages show i/N header (center, 16 pt) if applied.
  • Format: A4; TNR 14 pt; 1.5; justified; 1 cm indent; CLAIMS/ABSTRACT in ALL CAPS on new pages.
  • PDF with embedded fonts; Vietnamese diacritics render correctly.

Conclusion: “Right scope, full support” is the fulcrum of Vietnamese patent translation. With disciplined claims wording, context‑aware terminology, precise numbers/units, tight drawing mapping, and compliant formatting, your translation stays legally safe, examiner‑friendly, and file‑ready.

Related articles