I. Why Standardized Defect Terminology Matters?
In third-party inspection, inspectors are required to classify and mark defective products on-site and present the findings in the final official inspection report. A professional inspection report must include accurate defect descriptions that allow clients to quickly understand the issues and provide a reference for goods release decisions.
Inspector Online, a professional third-party inspection agency with 20 years of industry experience, has compiled this industry-wide universal glossary of common defects based on over 100,000 inspection services conducted annually. It covers major export product categories including textiles and apparel, electronics and electrical appliances, furniture and home goods, toys and gifts.
II. Defect Severity Classification Terminology
All product defects are first categorized into three levels based on their impact on user safety, product functionality and appearance. This is the foundation of the internationally accepted AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) sampling inspection standard:
| English Term | Chinese Term | Abbreviation | Definition & Typical AQL Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Defect | 致命缺陷 / 严重缺陷 | CR | Defects that endanger consumer health or safety, or violate laws and regulations of the target market. Zero tolerance. AQL value is typically 0. |
| Major Defect | 主要缺陷 | MAJ | Defects that directly affect the core functionality or primary appearance requirements of the product, rendering it unfit for normal use. AQL value is typically 1.0 or 2.5. |
| Minor Defect | 轻微缺陷 / 次要缺陷 | MIN/MI | Defects that do not affect the normal use of the product and only present minor appearance imperfections. AQL value is typically 4.0. |
III. Universal Appearance Defects (Chinese-English)
The following are the most common appearance defect terms applicable to all product types:
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Scratch | 划痕 |
| Gouge mark | 凿痕 / 深划伤 |
| Abrasion mark | 磨痕 / 擦伤 |
| Crack | 裂纹 / 裂缝 |
| Dent | 凹痕 / 凹陷 |
| Bubble/Blister | 气泡 / 起泡 |
| Color deviation | 色差 / 颜色不符 |
| Discoloration | 变色 / 褪色 |
| Contamination | 污染 / 异物 |
| Rust/Oxidation | 生锈 / 氧化 |
| Burn mark | 烧伤痕 / 烧痕 |
| Deformation | 变形 |
| Flash/Burr | 披锋 / 毛边 |
| Stain/Spot | 污渍 / 斑点 |
IV. Category-Specific Professional Defect Terminology
4.1 Textiles and Apparel Defects
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Broken stitch | 断线 |
| Skipping stitch | 跳针 |
| Uneven stitch | 线迹不均 |
| Open seam | 开线 / 爆缝 |
| Loose thread | 线头 |
| Pilling | 起球 |
| Shrinkage | 缩水 |
| Color fading | 褪色 |
| Misaligned pattern | 图案错位 |
| Wrong size | 尺码不符 |
| Hole | 破洞 |
| Uneven hem | 下摆不齐 |
| Tight crotch | 夹裆 |
| Iron shine | 极光 |
| Water stain | 水渍 |
4.2 Electronics and Electrical Appliances Defects
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Abnormal sound | 异响 |
| No power | 不通电 |
| Function failure | 功能失效 |
| Poor contact | 接触不良 |
| Short circuit | 短路 |
| Leakage current | 漏电 |
| Display error | 显示错误 |
| Button malfunction | 按键失灵 |
| Missing parts | 缺件 |
| Wrong assembly | 装配错误 |
| Wire exposure | 露线 |
| Battery leakage | 电池漏液 |
| Overheating | 过热 |
| Bar code illegible | 条形码模糊 |
| Label missing | 标签缺失 |
4.3 Plastic Parts Defects
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Short shot | 缺胶 / 走料不足 |
| Shrinkage | 缩水 |
| Flow mark | 流痕 / 流水纹 |
| Silver streak | 银丝纹 |
| Stress mark | 顶白 / 应力痕 |
| Black spot | 黑点 |
| Gate remnant | 水口未清 |
| Warpage | 翘曲 |
| Brittleness | 脆裂 |
| Mold release mark | 脱模痕 |
| Weld line | 熔接痕 |
| Sink mark | 凹痕 |
| Air trap | 困气 |
| Discoloration | 变色 |
| Excessive flash | 披锋过多 |
4.4 Furniture and Home Goods Defects
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Wood knot | 木节 / 死结 |
| Splinter | 木刺 |
| Crack in wood | 木材开裂 |
| Uneven painting | 油漆不均 |
| Paint peeling | 掉漆 / 油漆剥落 |
| Glue mark | 胶痕 |
| Loose joint | 接合处松动 |
| Drawer stuck | 抽屉卡住 |
| Door misaligned | 门错位 |
| Scratch on glass | 玻璃划痕 |
| Metal corrosion | 金属腐蚀 |
| Upholstery damage | 面料损坏 |
| Stitching defect | 缝纫缺陷 |
| Missing hardware | 五金件缺失 |
4.5 Packaging and Labeling Defects
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| Damaged carton | 纸箱破损 |
| Wet carton | 纸箱潮湿 |
| Wrong packing | 包装错误 |
| Short shipment | 短装 |
| Over shipment | 多装 |
| Wrong label | 标签错误 |
| Label missing | 标签缺失 |
| Wrong shipping mark | 唛头错误 |
| Insufficient packaging | 包装不足 |
| Seal broken | 封条破损 |
| Mixed items | 混装 |
| Expired date | 过期 |
| Wrong barcode | 条形码错误 |
| Missing instruction | 说明书缺失 |
| Language error | 语言错误 |
V. How to Use These Terminologies Correctly
- Combine with Severity Levels: Always indicate the severity level (CR/MAJ/MIN) when describing defects, as this is the core basis for AQL inspection judgment.
- Quantitative Description: Quantify the size, quantity and location of defects whenever possible, e.g., “3 scratches over 5mm in length on the front surface”.
- Combine Text with Images: Professional inspection reports include clear photos for each defect. Text descriptions paired with images convey issues more accurately.
VI. Inspector Online: Your Professional Quality Control Partner
Founded in 2006, Inspector Online is China’s leading third-party inspection service provider. We have over 2,000 full-time inspectors who have undergone rigorous training, with a service network covering major industrial belts across China and more than 30 countries and regions worldwide.
Our Core Services
- Supplier Audit: Comprehensive evaluation of factory qualifications, production capacity and management level
- Pre-Production Inspection (PPI): Inspect raw materials and production preparation to control quality from the source
- During Production Inspection (DPI): Identify issues in a timely manner during production to avoid batch rework
- Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI): Conduct comprehensive inspection of finished products in accordance with international AQL standards
- Container Loading Supervision (CLS): Full supervision of the container loading process to prevent wrong loading, missing loading and substitution
Why Choose Inspector Online
- Fast Response: Inspection arranged within 24 hours of order confirmation
- Efficient Reporting: Detailed bilingual (Chinese-English) inspection reports issued in as little as 4 hours
- Transparent Pricing: Online self-service ordering with clear and public pricing
- Professional Team: All inspectors have over 5 years of industry experience
- Global Coverage: Services available in major production bases including China, Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea
Take Action Now
If you have orders ready for shipment or would like to learn more about third-party inspection services, please contact us for a free quote. Inspector Online will safeguard your global trade with professional, impartial and efficient services.
