A trademark search in China is not the same exercise as a USPTO search. Two practical reasons: China is largely first-to-file, and China’s goods/services system uses classes plus subclasses, which can create real “gaps” if you search too narrowly or later file too narrowly.

If you’re in the U.S. and planning a China trademark application, you can do a decent first-pass search yourself, but you need to do it the “China way,” not the “U.S. way.”

Step 1: Prepare your mark in three versions

Before you touch any database, decide what you are actually trying to protect:

1. English / Latin characters (your main brand name).
2. A Chinese version (characters) you choose, not whatever the market invents for you. Chinese consumers commonly use Chinese names, and if you don’t pick one, one may be created organically, sometimes by third parties.
3. Pinyin / sound-alike versions (how it could be pronounced).

In China, conflicts often come from sound and meaning, not only spelling.

Step 2: Identify the right class and the right subclass coverage

China follows the Nice Classification (45 classes), but adds a layer of subclasses that heavily influence what CNIPA considers “similar.”

Practical approach:

• Start with the Nice class you’d pick in the U.S./EU.
• Then map your goods/services to the China subclasses inside that class.
• Add adjacent subclasses you realistically need for protection (packaging, accessories, related items). Subclass gaps are a common problem for foreign brands.

If you skip this step, your search results can look “clear” while the real conflict sits in a neighboring subclass.

Step 3: Do a fast, English-friendly sweep (to catch obvious problems)

Use the WIPO Global Brand Database as an early filter. It’s quick and can surface relevant records included in that dataset.

Run searches for:

• Exact mark
• Spacing/hyphen variants
• Truncated stems (first 4–6 letters)
• Obvious misspellings

This is not your final answer. It’s just a fast way to see if you’re walking into a crowded name.

Step 4: Check CNIPA records (expect Chinese-first searching)

For a real trademark search China exercise, you need to review CNIPA records. In practice, you often get better results searching in Chinese, especially for owner names and Chinese versions of marks.

What to search:

• Your English mark (exact plus close variations)
• Your chosen Chinese characters (exact plus partial)
• Pinyin or phonetic chunks (brands get copied by sound)

Don’t be surprised if the interface feels clunky or you hit captchas. That’s normal.

Step 5: Search by class and subclass (the step most people miss)

Now repeat the search while filtering (or at least reviewing) by your target class and subclasses.

As a rule of thumb:

• A conflicting mark in your same subclass is typically high risk.
• Conflicts can still matter outside the subclass in some situations, but same-subclass hits are the ones you treat as immediate red flags.

Step 6: Build a short risk list you can actually use

For each close result, capture:

• The mark (word/characters/logo)
• Status (pending, registered, expired)
• Owner
• The exact goods/services wording
• The class/subclass

Then sort into:

• Green: clearly different and/or unrelated coverage
• Yellow: arguable similarity (needs strategy)
• Red: same market and close name/sound/meaning

This is the point of the search: making a decision, not collecting screenshots.

Step 7: Do the “China reality check” for squatting and Chinese-name risk

China-focused guidance for foreign brands is consistent on two issues: squatting risk and the importance of registering a Chinese-language version alongside the English mark.

So, your final check should be:

• Is your English mark already filed in China in relevant subclasses?
• Is a Chinese equivalent, or a close sound-alike, already filed?
• If you plan to sell on platforms or manufacture, are you exposed if someone else owns the Chinese name?

Step 8: File nationally in China with professional support

For most U.S.-based brand owners, the cleanest approach is a national China filing handled by professionals who understand CNIPA practice and subclass coverage. Foreign applicants typically need a China-qualified representative to file and manage the application properly.

When it’s smart to stop DIY and use professionals

A DIY search is fine for curiosity. It’s risky as a green light for a real China trademark application.

A professional search is where the process becomes faster and less painful:

• At Trademark Angel, we use Corsearch, a professional search platform designed to catch look-alike and sound-alike risks that basic public searching often misses.
• We don’t just dump results. We summarize what matters, flag real conflicts, and tell you what is likely to cause trouble in China.
• We also work with a China-based trademark attorney for CNIPA filings and strategy, so your search results can translate into a filing plan that actually fits China’s subclass system and examination approach.

If your mark is valuable, or you’re planning manufacturing, Amazon expansion, or any China-facing activity, this is not the country to “hope it’s fine.” It’s worth doing it once, properly, with tools and people who do China clearance every day.