Tolerance公差
Tolerance is the allowable variation around a nominal dimension, geometric feature, or process parameter, typically expressed as upper and lower limits or a plus/minus band. It appears on engineering drawings, inspection plans, first-article reports, and process capability studies, where translators must preserve units, sign conventions, and the distinction between unilateral and bilateral limits because a wrong value can make a conforming part appear defective or vice versa.
Updated
Angel Translation editorial reference · Confirm the rendering against your source and approved project terminology.
Check source meaning → confirm the preferred term → record approved variants and references.
Where this term appears
In localization work, tolerance appears in engineering drawings, inspection checklists, quality manuals, and first-article inspection reports. It often occurs in dimension tables, notes such as “±0.1 mm,” fit designations, and process capability data. Translators must handle it consistently across drawing notes and body text, especially when source language uses abbreviations for geometric tolerances or references to general tolerance standards.
Translation checks
A frequent error is translating “tolerance” as a vague “allowance” or “margin,” losing the specified upper and lower limits. Another is dropping or swapping plus/minus signs, decimal places, or unit conversions when copying values into translated inspection documents. These errors matter because a shifted limit can make a conforming part appear out of spec or hide a nonconformance, which has direct quality and assembly consequences.
Chinese document application
Tolerance in context · drawing note
- English source
- Maintain the tolerance specified on the drawing.
- Chinese rendering to review
- 保持图样上规定的公差。
Illustrative wording only. Confirm the rendering against the actual source and approved project terminology.
Check the distinction in context
Tolerance, clearance and allowance are not general synonyms. Preserve symbols, datum references and whether a value applies to size or geometry. Translate the note in its drawing context rather than guessing the intended relationship from a single number.
Check the returned Chinese file
Check the Chinese drawing note in a readable proof with its symbols and references visible. Confirm that the note still applies to the same feature and that layout changes have not detached a qualifier from its value.
Prepare the connected files
Supply a legible drawing and the text layer if available. Identify non-translatable symbols and the engineer who can resolve source ambiguity.
Keep the term aligned across your files
Check equipment names, units, safety instructions and interface labels against the source and approved references. Confirm any market-specific document requirements separately.
Provide approved terms and previous translations with the source files. Agree how variants, ambiguous wording and revisions will be reviewed. Terminology maintenance and any termbase handback are confirmed in the project scope. See the 8-step AI + expert workflow.
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Working on smart manufacturing documentation?
Include the source and target languages, file types, intended use, deadline and any approved termbase. Agree handling before sending sensitive files. Acknowledged in 4 hours, quoted in 24.
Prepare an inquiry email →Smart Manufacturing solutions →File handling →A glossary entry is not an official standard or evidence of regulatory acceptance. Confirm current requirements for your project separately.