Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
矽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
矽xīsiliconnz, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #85888, Very Hard
矽xīsilicon (chemistry)unknown, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #85888, Very Hard
矽xīTaiwan pr. [xi4]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #85888, Very Hard
矽xìsiliconnz, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #85888, Very Hard
矽xìsilicon (chemistry)unknown, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #85888, Very Hard
矽xìTaiwan pr. [xi4]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 石, rank #85888, Very Hard
xì(xi4)
primary
T4
  1. 1silicon
  2. 2silicon (chemistry)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

矽xì(xi4)

The character 矽 (xì) refers specifically to silicon, a chemical element commonly used in technology and electronics. It's a key component in semiconductors and plays a significant role in modern computing. In Taiwan, this character is pronounced as 'xi4', which is important to note for learners focusing on regional variations.

Strokes8Radical石Frequency#85888DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Silicon is central to Taiwan's economy, particularly in the technology sector, making this character significant in discussions about the tech industry. Taiwan is often referred to as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, which ties back to the importance of silicon.

Memory Tip

Imagine a high-tech silicon valley where you see a giant silicon chip shaped like the character 矽. The left side, represented by the radical '石' (stone), reminds you that silicon is a mineral, while the '夕' (evening) part can evoke the idea of modern technology emerging at night.

Meanings of 矽

xì(xi4)
primary
1silicon
2silicon (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 矽

矽Simplified
8Strokes
石Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 矽

JasonAmy

Podcast: 矽

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 矽

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation, especially in different regions, as it may vary slightly. This character is typically used in scientific or technical contexts, so it's more formal than casual conversation. Common collocations include 矽晶体 (silicon crystal) and 矽谷 (Silicon Valley).

HSK Study Tips

Although 矽 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be useful to study alongside other technology-related terms at HSK level 4 and above. Focus on learning related terms like 半导体 (bàn dǎo tǐ - semiconductor) to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 矽 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, such as 息 (xī - rest) or 习 (xí - practice). Always remember that 矽 specifically relates to silicon, especially in a technical context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 矽

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 矽 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 矽

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

stone

Semantic (meaning)石
+
Phonetic (sound)夕
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 矽

  1. 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half夕 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaystone
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 矽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 矽?

Decomposition of 矽

IDS Structure⿰石夕
矽Full Character
=
石dan4
left
夕xi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 矽?

How to say silicon in Chinese

“silicon” in Chinese is矽xī

The character 矽 (xì) refers specifically to silicon, a chemical element commonly used in technology and electronics. It's a key component in semiconductors and plays a significant role in modern computing. In Taiwan, this character is pronounced as 'xi4', which is important to note for learners focusing on regional variations.

When to use 矽

Be cautious with the pronunciation, especially in different regions, as it may vary slightly. This character is typically used in scientific or technical contexts, so it's more formal than casual conversation. Common collocations include 矽晶体 (silicon crystal) and 矽谷 (Silicon Valley).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 矽 with other characters that have similar pronunciations, such as 息 (xī - rest) or 习 (xí - practice). Always remember that 矽 specifically relates to silicon, especially in a technical context.

Write 矽

矽

Practice writing 矽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 矽

Words Containing This Character2
矽肺grinder's disease
矽xìTaiwan pr. [xì]
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 矽肺 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 矽

It is pronounced as 'xì' in Mandarin, but note that in Taiwan it can also be pronounced as 'xi4'.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 矽?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.