# How to translate a Chinese PDF to English To translate a Chinese PDF to English, upload it to LoreAI, leave the source on Auto-detect and download an editable Word file. Simplified and traditional pages both work, even in one PDF. Transcripts come back as Word tables, with ID numbers, dates and grades kept as written. ## How to translate a Chinese PDF with LoreAI 1. **Use the PDF the issuer gave you.** A PDF downloaded from a university or registry reads better than a scan of a printout. A clean scan is the next best. 2. **Create a free account and upload it.** Your first document is free, up to 3 pages and 3 MB. Several records can go in one PDF. 3. **Leave the source on Auto-detect and choose English.** There is no setting for simplified or traditional characters. LoreAI recognizes both. 4. **Download the Word file.** Transcripts come back as Word tables with the same rows and columns. ## How a mixed Chinese PDF comes back in English A degree certificate from Taiwan in traditional characters and a transcript from a mainland university in simplified characters can go in the same PDF. This is how each part looks in the Word file. - **Two scripts in one file**: Both pages are recognized and translated in one upload, with no setting to change. - **Taiwan dates**: 中華民國八十七年五月十二日 becomes 12 May 87 of the Republic of China, with the year as the issuer wrote it. - **Mainland dates**: 2019年9月1日 becomes 1 September 2019. - **Resident ID**: An 18-digit number such as 110105199803127716 comes through intact. - **Grades**: Numeric scores stay as written, and grade words such as 优秀 and 良好 become Excellent and Good. - **Names**: 陳怡君, 王磊 and 林志明 become Chen Yijun, Wang Lei and Lin Zhiming in pinyin. - **Certificate number**: （112）示大字第004521號 becomes (112) Shida No. 004521. Every number keeps its digits and every table keeps its rows and columns, so the file is ready to edit, print or hand to a translator. ## Traditional characters, ROC years and Taiwan names Documents from Taiwan use traditional characters and usually count years from 1912, the first year of the Republic of China (民國). To get the Western year, add 1911, so 民國112年 is 2023. Many Taiwan certificates write the year in characters, as in 一一二 or 八十七, which LoreAI reads and keeps as the Republic of China year. Add 1911 where the receiver wants the Western year. LoreAI writes Chinese names in Hanyu Pinyin, the system used in mainland China. Passports from Taiwan and Hong Kong often spell names another way, such as Chen Yi-chun or Chan for 陳. Use the passport spelling in the Word file, the same way on every page. Hong Kong documents also use traditional characters, but with Western years. If your PDF is a photo of a household register or a notarial certificate rather than a file, see the [Chinese image translation guide](https://www.loreai.org/translate-image-to-english/chinese). ## Do Chinese transcripts for WES need a translation? For a mainland Chinese degree going to World Education Services, the usual route is a verification report sent from China, not your own translation. CSSD, which runs the CHSI site, sends the online verification reports for the qualification and degree certificates to WES, with an English version you order under English Report Delivery[1]. A transcript verification report takes about one month to complete[1]. The online verification reports come as a printout, a PDF or an email[2]. Start the WES application first and read its document list for your country. The [WES translation requirements guide](https://www.loreai.org/wes-translation-requirements) explains when WES wants a translation as well. A LoreAI translation helps you read your own records and check that every course and grade matches. ## Chinese PDFs for USCIS For USCIS, any document in Chinese comes with a full English translation that the translator certifies as complete and accurate, and a statement that the translator is competent to translate from Chinese into English[3]. Public documents issued in mainland China since November 7, 2023 need only an apostille from the Foreign Affairs Office before they are used in the US, with no consular authentication[4]. LoreAI is not a certified translation service and does not sign translations. A translator who reads Chinese reviews the Word file, sets the passport spellings and signs the certification. See [USCIS translation requirements](https://www.loreai.org/uscis-translation) for what the statement covers. ## Questions people ask ### Can I translate a Chinese PDF to English for free? Yes. LoreAI translates your first document free, up to 3 pages, scans included. Google Translate's document tab is free for files up to 10 MB and 300 pages, but it leaves the text of scanned pages untranslated[5]. ### Does it work on traditional Chinese PDFs from Taiwan or Hong Kong? Yes. A traditional page and a simplified page in the same PDF are both translated. Taiwan dates keep their Republic of China year, and adding 1911 gives the Western year. ### Are Chinese names written in pinyin? Yes, in Hanyu Pinyin with the family name first. Where the passport uses another spelling, use that spelling throughout the Word file. ### Do I need to translate my transcript for WES? Often not. CSSD sends verification reports to WES, with an English version for the online qualification and degree reports[1]. Check WES's document list for your case. ## Sources 1. [CHSI (CSSD): WES Portal, application and submitting process instruction](https://www.chsi.com.cn/en/help/howtoapply_wes_en.jsp), accessed November 3, 2026 2. [CHSI (CSSD): Brief introduction to Online Verification Report](https://www.chsi.com.cn/xlcx/en/brief.jsp), accessed November 3, 2026 3. [8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), Translations, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-8/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-103/subpart-A/section-103.2), accessed November 3, 2026 4. [U.S. Embassy & Consulates in China: Notarials, authentication process for Chinese documents for use in the U.S.](https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/services/notarials/), accessed November 3, 2026 5. [Google Translate Help: Translate documents and websites (computer)](https://support.google.com/translate/answer/2534559?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop), accessed November 3, 2026 By Matt Mountain · Updated November 3, 2026