gwai1硅
Jyutpinggwai1
Yalegwāi
Definition
Silicon (mainly used in Mainland China).
neutralother
How it's used
Silicon is almost exclusively referred to as 矽 in Hong Kong, following the traditional character standard used in science and education. The character 硅 is the simplified character standard used in mainland China and is rarely used in local academic or professional contexts. Using 硅 may cause confusion or be perceived as an import from mainland terminology.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 硅 in Hong Kong, as it is not the standard character for the element silicon in local schools or industry. Always use 矽 to ensure your writing aligns with local conventions.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
