Despite China’s global ambitions and its technological giants, some of its most strategically important companies and projects are still named in Chinese and written in pinyin, the system for romanizing Chinese characters. The pronunciation of these names can often be challenging for Russian-speaking entrepreneurs and consumers, not to mention their meanings. This article provides a brief guide to decoding the hidden meanings behind the names of some Chinese tech companies, products, and scientific projects.
“China’s Achievements” Smartphones
Huawei (华为) is one of the world’s largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers.
The name Huawei consists of two characters. The first, 华 (huá), means “China” or “Chinese.” The second character, 为 (wéi), can be translated as “achievement” or “action.” Thus, the name Huawei means “China’s Achievements.”
Computer Chips: “Flat-Headed Brother” and “Kunlun Mountains”
Many Chinese internet giants are making every effort to achieve independence in semiconductor supply amid rising tensions between China and the United States.
Pingtou (平头) Ge (哥) translates to “Flat-Headed Brother.” This is the name given by Chinese internet users to the honey badger—a small, fearless animal known for its ability to kill cobras. Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, explained that he became interested in the honey badger precisely because of its fearlessness.
Baidu is a major Chinese company providing web services, of which its namesake search engine is the leading search provider in China. The name Baidu (百度 bǎidù) is a reference to a poem by the Song dynasty poet Xin Qiji, which describes searching and striving for a dream. In the name Baidu, the character 百 (bǎi) means “hundred” and 度 (dù) means “times.”
Baidu is also engaged in developing artificial intelligence technologies and, in 2018, introduced its first cloud computing chip, Kunlun (昆仑 kūnlún). In China, the Kunlun Mountains are the largest mountain range in Asia and are considered to be the “center of the world.” Furthermore, in Chinese mythology, the sacred Kunlun Mountains are home to the “Yellow Emperor,” Huangdi—the legendary ruler and ancestor of the Chinese nation.
Jade Rabbit, the Goddess, and the Space Emperor
The names of China’s space programs are most often linked to Chinese mythology.
Chang’e (嫦娥) 4, the lunar spacecraft that recently made a historic landing on the far side of the Moon, is named after Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess.
China’s robotic lunar rover Yutu (玉兔 yùtù) literally translates as “Jade Rabbit.” This name was selected through an online poll and is also the name of Chang’e’s pet rabbit in mythology.
The name of China’s first experimental space station, Tiangong-1, was also inspired by Chinese mythology. Tiangong (天宫) refers to the “Heavenly Palace,” where, according to legend, the first god of China, the Jade Emperor, resides.