Four-Language Terminology Reference

Patent Drawing Glossary

Side-by-side patent drawing terminology in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, covering views, diagram types, drafting elements, prosecution documents, and file formats. Built for translators, patent drafters, and anyone verifying the right term for a filing.

This glossary is free to cite and link. Every row has a stable anchor, so you can reference a single term directly. Translations reflect the terminology actually used by USPTO, CNIPA, JPO, and KIPO practice rather than literal dictionary renderings.

Views

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Perspective view	立体图	斜視図	사시도	A three-dimensional view showing the object at an angle so several faces appear in one figure.	#
Front view	主视图	正面図	정면도	The view of the object seen straight from the front; usually the primary orthographic view of a figure set.	#
Side view	侧视图	側面図	측면도	The view of the object seen from the left or right side.	#
Top view (plan view)	俯视图	平面図	평면도	The view of the object seen from directly above.	#
Bottom view	仰视图	底面図	저면도	The view of the object seen from directly below.	#
Rear view	后视图	背面図	배면도	The view of the object seen from behind.	#
Exploded view	分解图	分解斜視図	분해도	A view showing the parts of an assembly separated along their assembly axes to reveal how they fit together.	#
Sectional view	剖视图	断面図	단면도	A view showing the object as if cut along a plane, exposing internal structure; the cut surfaces carry hatching.	#
Cross-sectional view	横剖视图	横断面図	횡단면도	A sectional view cut perpendicular to the main axis of the object.	#
Partial enlarged view	局部放大图	部分拡大図	부분 확대도	A view that enlarges a selected portion of another figure to show fine detail clearly.	#
Isometric view	等轴测图	等角投影図	등각 투영도	A three-dimensional projection in which the three principal axes are equally foreshortened at 120-degree angles.	#
Reference view	使用状态参考图	参考図	참고도	A supplementary view, common in design filings, showing context such as the article in use; it does not define the claimed scope.	#

Diagram types

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Block diagram	框图	ブロック図	블록도	A diagram representing system components as labeled blocks connected by lines showing their relationships.	#
Flowchart	流程图	フローチャート	순서도	A diagram showing the ordered steps of a method or process, widely used in software and method patents.	#
Schematic diagram	示意图	概略図	개략도	A simplified diagram that conveys structure or principle without depicting exact physical form.	#
Circuit diagram	电路图	回路図	회로도	A diagram showing electrical components and their connections using standard symbols.	#
Wiring diagram	接线图	配線図	배선도	A diagram showing the physical wiring connections between electrical devices or terminals.	#
State diagram	状态图	状態遷移図	상태 천이도	A diagram showing the states of a system and the transitions between them.	#
Sequence diagram	时序图	シーケンス図	시퀀스 다이어그램	A diagram showing messages exchanged between entities over time, common in communication and software patents.	#
Waveform diagram	波形图	波形図	파형도	A diagram showing how a signal varies over time, used for timing and signal-processing inventions.	#

Drafting elements

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Reference numeral	附图标记	符号	참조 부호	The number assigned to each part in the drawings; it must stay consistent with the specification across all figures.	#
Lead line (leader line)	引出线	引出線	지시선	The thin line connecting a reference numeral to the part it identifies.	#
Hatching (section lines)	剖面线	ハッチング	해칭	Parallel oblique lines drawn on cut surfaces of a sectional view to indicate solid material.	#
Surface shading	表面阴影	陰影	표면 음영	Fine lines or stippling that show the contour and character of a surface, important in design patent drawings.	#
Broken line (dashed line)	虚线	破線	파선	A line of short dashes; in design patents it shows unclaimed environment, in utility drawings hidden structure.	#
Solid line	实线	実線	실선	A continuous line showing visible edges; in design patents it defines the claimed design.	#
Phantom line	假想线	想像線	가상선	A long-dash double-short-dash line showing alternate positions, adjacent structure, or imaginary outlines.	#
Center line	中心线	中心線	중심선	A thin alternating long-and-short dash line marking axes of symmetry or centers of circles.	#
Chain line (dash-dot line)	点划线	一点鎖線	일점쇄선	A line of alternating dashes and dots, used for center lines, cutting planes, and boundaries.	#
Cutting-plane line	剖切线	切断線	절단선	The line marked on a view (for example A-A) showing where and in which direction a sectional view is taken.	#
Margin	页边距	余白	여백	The blank border required around the drawing area on each sheet; every office sets minimum margin sizes.	#
Drawing sheet	图纸	図面用紙	도면 용지	A single page of the drawings, normally A4 or letter size, holding one or more numbered figures.	#
Scale	比例	縮尺	축척	The size ratio at which the object is drawn; figures must remain legible when reproduced at reduced size.	#

Procedure and documents

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Figure number (FIG.)	图号	図番号	도면 번호	The consecutive label of each figure, such as FIG. 1; numbering must match the brief description of drawings.	#
Brief description of drawings	附图说明	図面の簡単な説明	도면의 간단한 설명	The specification section listing each figure with a one-line description of what it shows.	#
Specification	说明书	明細書	명세서	The written document describing the invention in detail; the drawings must be consistent with it.	#
Claims	权利要求书	特許請求の範囲	청구범위	The numbered statements defining the legal scope of protection sought for the invention.	#
Abstract	摘要	要約書	요약서	A short summary of the disclosure; many offices also require selecting one figure to accompany it.	#
Utility patent	发明专利	特許	특허	The US term for a patent on a functional invention; it corresponds to an invention patent in China, Japan, and Korea.	#
Design patent	外观设计专利	意匠	디자인등록	Protection for the ornamental appearance of an article; drawing conventions such as broken lines carry legal meaning.	#
Utility model	实用新型	実用新案	실용신안	A shorter-term right for technical solutions on product shape or structure, available in China, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere.	#
Provisional application	临时申请	仮出願	가출원	A US filing that secures a priority date without formal claims; informal drawings are accepted but clarity still matters.	#
Office action	审查意见通知书	拒絶理由通知書	의견제출통지서	The examiner communication raising objections or rejections; drawing defects are a common ground.	#
Amendment	修改	補正	보정	A change to the application after filing; amended drawings must not add new matter.	#
Embodiment	实施例	実施例	실시예	A concrete example of the invention described in the specification, usually illustrated by the figures.	#

Format and technical

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Line art	线条图	線画	선화	Black-and-white drawing made of clean solid lines without gray tones; the default style patent offices expect.	#
Vector graphics	矢量图	ベクター画像	벡터 이미지	Images defined by mathematical paths (SVG, DXF, vector PDF) that stay sharp at any scale.	#
Raster graphics	位图	ラスター画像	래스터 이미지	Pixel-based images (PNG, TIFF, JPEG); quality depends on resolution and degrades when enlarged.	#
Resolution (DPI)	分辨率	解像度	해상도	Image detail measured in dots per inch; 300 DPI is the common minimum for filing-quality drawings.	#
Grayscale	灰度	グレースケール	그레이스케일	Images using shades of gray; most offices restrict grayscale in favor of pure black-and-white line art.	#
Anti-aliasing	抗锯齿	アンチエイリアス	안티앨리어싱	Edge smoothing that introduces gray pixels; it can cause filing systems to flag lines as non-black.	#
Line weight	线宽	線の太さ	선 굵기	The thickness of drawn lines; offices expect uniformly dense, durable lines that survive reduction.	#

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Views

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Perspective view	立体图	斜視図	사시도	A three-dimensional view showing the object at an angle so several faces appear in one figure.	#
Front view	主视图	正面図	정면도	The view of the object seen straight from the front; usually the primary orthographic view of a figure set.	#
Side view	侧视图	側面図	측면도	The view of the object seen from the left or right side.	#
Top view (plan view)	俯视图	平面図	평면도	The view of the object seen from directly above.	#
Bottom view	仰视图	底面図	저면도	The view of the object seen from directly below.	#
Rear view	后视图	背面図	배면도	The view of the object seen from behind.	#
Exploded view	分解图	分解斜視図	분해도	A view showing the parts of an assembly separated along their assembly axes to reveal how they fit together.	#
Sectional view	剖视图	断面図	단면도	A view showing the object as if cut along a plane, exposing internal structure; the cut surfaces carry hatching.	#
Cross-sectional view	横剖视图	横断面図	횡단면도	A sectional view cut perpendicular to the main axis of the object.	#
Partial enlarged view	局部放大图	部分拡大図	부분 확대도	A view that enlarges a selected portion of another figure to show fine detail clearly.	#
Isometric view	等轴测图	等角投影図	등각 투영도	A three-dimensional projection in which the three principal axes are equally foreshortened at 120-degree angles.	#
Reference view	使用状态参考图	参考図	참고도	A supplementary view, common in design filings, showing context such as the article in use; it does not define the claimed scope.	#

Diagram types

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Block diagram	框图	ブロック図	블록도	A diagram representing system components as labeled blocks connected by lines showing their relationships.	#
Flowchart	流程图	フローチャート	순서도	A diagram showing the ordered steps of a method or process, widely used in software and method patents.	#
Schematic diagram	示意图	概略図	개략도	A simplified diagram that conveys structure or principle without depicting exact physical form.	#
Circuit diagram	电路图	回路図	회로도	A diagram showing electrical components and their connections using standard symbols.	#
Wiring diagram	接线图	配線図	배선도	A diagram showing the physical wiring connections between electrical devices or terminals.	#
State diagram	状态图	状態遷移図	상태 천이도	A diagram showing the states of a system and the transitions between them.	#
Sequence diagram	时序图	シーケンス図	시퀀스 다이어그램	A diagram showing messages exchanged between entities over time, common in communication and software patents.	#
Waveform diagram	波形图	波形図	파형도	A diagram showing how a signal varies over time, used for timing and signal-processing inventions.	#

Drafting elements

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Reference numeral	附图标记	符号	참조 부호	The number assigned to each part in the drawings; it must stay consistent with the specification across all figures.	#
Lead line (leader line)	引出线	引出線	지시선	The thin line connecting a reference numeral to the part it identifies.	#
Hatching (section lines)	剖面线	ハッチング	해칭	Parallel oblique lines drawn on cut surfaces of a sectional view to indicate solid material.	#
Surface shading	表面阴影	陰影	표면 음영	Fine lines or stippling that show the contour and character of a surface, important in design patent drawings.	#
Broken line (dashed line)	虚线	破線	파선	A line of short dashes; in design patents it shows unclaimed environment, in utility drawings hidden structure.	#
Solid line	实线	実線	실선	A continuous line showing visible edges; in design patents it defines the claimed design.	#
Phantom line	假想线	想像線	가상선	A long-dash double-short-dash line showing alternate positions, adjacent structure, or imaginary outlines.	#
Center line	中心线	中心線	중심선	A thin alternating long-and-short dash line marking axes of symmetry or centers of circles.	#
Chain line (dash-dot line)	点划线	一点鎖線	일점쇄선	A line of alternating dashes and dots, used for center lines, cutting planes, and boundaries.	#
Cutting-plane line	剖切线	切断線	절단선	The line marked on a view (for example A-A) showing where and in which direction a sectional view is taken.	#
Margin	页边距	余白	여백	The blank border required around the drawing area on each sheet; every office sets minimum margin sizes.	#
Drawing sheet	图纸	図面用紙	도면 용지	A single page of the drawings, normally A4 or letter size, holding one or more numbered figures.	#
Scale	比例	縮尺	축척	The size ratio at which the object is drawn; figures must remain legible when reproduced at reduced size.	#

Procedure and documents

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Figure number (FIG.)	图号	図番号	도면 번호	The consecutive label of each figure, such as FIG. 1; numbering must match the brief description of drawings.	#
Brief description of drawings	附图说明	図面の簡単な説明	도면의 간단한 설명	The specification section listing each figure with a one-line description of what it shows.	#
Specification	说明书	明細書	명세서	The written document describing the invention in detail; the drawings must be consistent with it.	#
Claims	权利要求书	特許請求の範囲	청구범위	The numbered statements defining the legal scope of protection sought for the invention.	#
Abstract	摘要	要約書	요약서	A short summary of the disclosure; many offices also require selecting one figure to accompany it.	#
Utility patent	发明专利	特許	특허	The US term for a patent on a functional invention; it corresponds to an invention patent in China, Japan, and Korea.	#
Design patent	外观设计专利	意匠	디자인등록	Protection for the ornamental appearance of an article; drawing conventions such as broken lines carry legal meaning.	#
Utility model	实用新型	実用新案	실용신안	A shorter-term right for technical solutions on product shape or structure, available in China, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere.	#
Provisional application	临时申请	仮出願	가출원	A US filing that secures a priority date without formal claims; informal drawings are accepted but clarity still matters.	#
Office action	审查意见通知书	拒絶理由通知書	의견제출통지서	The examiner communication raising objections or rejections; drawing defects are a common ground.	#
Amendment	修改	補正	보정	A change to the application after filing; amended drawings must not add new matter.	#
Embodiment	实施例	実施例	실시예	A concrete example of the invention described in the specification, usually illustrated by the figures.	#

Format and technical

English	Chinese	Japanese	Korean	Definition	Link
Line art	线条图	線画	선화	Black-and-white drawing made of clean solid lines without gray tones; the default style patent offices expect.	#
Vector graphics	矢量图	ベクター画像	벡터 이미지	Images defined by mathematical paths (SVG, DXF, vector PDF) that stay sharp at any scale.	#
Raster graphics	位图	ラスター画像	래스터 이미지	Pixel-based images (PNG, TIFF, JPEG); quality depends on resolution and degrades when enlarged.	#
Resolution (DPI)	分辨率	解像度	해상도	Image detail measured in dots per inch; 300 DPI is the common minimum for filing-quality drawings.	#
Grayscale	灰度	グレースケール	그레이스케일	Images using shades of gray; most offices restrict grayscale in favor of pure black-and-white line art.	#
Anti-aliasing	抗锯齿	アンチエイリアス	안티앨리어싱	Edge smoothing that introduces gray pixels; it can cause filing systems to flag lines as non-black.	#
Line weight	线宽	線の太さ	선 굵기	The thickness of drawn lines; offices expect uniformly dense, durable lines that survive reduction.	#