硅氧樹脂 / 硅氧树脂
guīyǎng shùzhī
In Mandarin, 'silicone' can be expressed as 硅氧樹脂 / 硅氧树脂 (guīyǎng shùzhī). Wiktionary also lists 矽氧樹脂 / 矽氧树脂 (xīyǎng shùzhī) and 硅酮 (guītóng).
Meaning: any of a class of inert compounds of silicon (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 硅氧樹脂 / 硅氧树脂 | guīyǎng shùzhī |
| 矽氧樹脂 / 矽氧树脂 | xīyǎng shùzhī |
| 硅酮 | guītóng |
| 矽酮 | xītóng |
The term refers to the class of inert compounds of silicon. While the character 硅 (guī) means 'silicon'.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 硅氧树脂 (guīyǎng shùzhī) literally means 'silicon-oxygen resin'.
Which one should you use?
硅酮 (guītóng) is a more technical or chemical synonym for silicone, often used in industrial contexts. Note that while 硅 (guī) refers to silicon, the specific term 硅胶 (guījiāo) refers specifically to silicone rubber or sealant.
How do you pronounce it?
guīyǎng shùzhī
Did you know?
- Because 硅 (guī) is the root for 'Silicon Valley' 硅谷 (guīgǔ), the character has become a cultural shorthand for high-tech innovation in China, far beyond its chemical meaning.
- The term 硅胶 (guījiāo) is often used in China to refer to 'silica gel' desiccant packets found in shoe boxes, which is chemically distinct from the polymer silicone.
- In technical manuals, the difference between the characters 硅 (guī) and 矽 (xī) is vital. While both refer to silicon, the latter is the standard character used in Taiwan for the element, whereas the former is the norm in mainland China.
Examples in context
- 请确保使用硅橡胶医疗器械。Please make sure to use silicone medical devices.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silicone” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
