How to spell “Xiaomi” – official spelling, errors and rules of use

The Chinese brand name Xiaomi has long been a familiar name for Russian users, but it still raises questions about the correct spelling, whether due to its unusual combination of letters or transliteration features, but there are dozens of options on the Internet, from Xiaomi to Xiaomi or even Ziaomi, while the company has long established clear rules on how its name should look in different languages and contexts.

In this article, we will examine not only the official spelling of the brand in Russian and English, but also the typical mistakes that users, bloggers and even some media make. You will learn why “Xiaomi” is wrong, how to lean the name in the texts, and what the company thinks about the “folk” versions, and how to avoid penalties for improper use of the logo for commercial purposes.

Xiaomi Brand Writing in Different Languages

According to Xiaomi Inc.’s corporate standards, the brand name must be written strictly in Latin, “Xiaomi,” in all languages except Chinese.

• 📄 official documents (contracts, press releases, certificates);
• 📱 device interfaces (settings menu, notifications, proprietary software);
• 🌍 International presentations and promotional materials;
• 📦 packaging of products and accessories.

In Chinese, the name is spelled in hieroglyphics (literally "little rice"), but even in China, Latin transliteration is used for export models. Interestingly, the word "Xiaomi" itself does not have a direct translation - a brand name coined by the company's founder, Lei Jun, as a reference to the Buddhist concept of "painful labor."

In 2021, Xiaomi registered the trademark “Xiaomi” (Cyrillic) in Russia, but uses it very limitedly – only in rare marketing campaigns for Russian-speaking audiences.

Why “Xiaomi” is not entirely correct (but permissible in colloquial speech)

Many users mistakenly believe that “Xiaomi” is the official Russian version of the brand name, in fact, it is a transliteration from Chinese, which appeared spontaneously on the Runet, the company never insisted on such a spelling, but did not prohibit it from informal communication.

Here are the key points worth remembering:

• ✅ Acceptable in spoken language, comments, informal reviews;
• ❌ Inadmissible in legal documents, advertising, technical documentation;
• ⚠️ It can cause confusion when searching for information (for example, it is better to use Xiaomi in Google queries).

In 2018, Xiaomi filed a lawsuit against a Russian store that used the name “Xiaomi” in its domain name without permission, and the court sided with the company, admitting that only the Latin spelling is fully protected by the trademark.

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If you have a blog or a channel about gadgets, it is better to stick to writing Xiaomi – this will increase the visibility of your materials in search engines.

Typical Mistakes in Writing Xiaomi: Top-7 fallacies

Even those who try to spell the brand name correctly often make some curious mistakes, and we've collected the most common variants and explained why they're wrong:

Errors are especially common on social media hashtags, such as #ksiomi or #jiaomi, which not only look unprofessional, but also reduce the reach of publications, as social media algorithms do not recognize distorted brand names.

How to correctly incline "Xiaomi" in Russian?

The inclination of foreign names is a sore topic for many brands, Xiaomi is no exception: in Russian there are no clear rules for such cases, but the company gives its recommendations:

• 📌 Name case: “The company Xiaomi has released a new smartphone»;
• 📌 Parental case: “News from Xiaomi” (without ending!);
• 📌 Dative case: "Letter to Xiaomi»;
• 📌 I bought a Xiaomi phone, I bought a Xiaomi phone»;
• 📌 Creative case: “Manage the device from Xiaomi»;
• 📌 Proposed case: “About the company Xiaomi».

Note that you don't have to bend the name, and that's the rule for other brands like Samsung or Apple, except for the conversational language, where you sometimes hear "Xiaomi," but written texts say it's a mistake.

⚠️ Note: If you write for a media or commercial website, never use a design like Xiaomi or Xiaomi Smartphone, which is not only grammatically incorrect, but can be considered a trademark infringement.

Xiaomi in the logo: how to design and document

In addition to writing, it is important to follow the rules of using the logo and corporate identity of Xiaomi, the company has developed detailed guidelines that are mandatory for partners and advertisers:

1. Color palette: Orange #FF6900 (main) and black #000000 for text. Other shades are prohibited.
2. Font: The logo is typed in the Mi Sans brand font, but the texts allow Arial or Helvetica.
3. Indentation Zone: A free space equal to half the height of the letter X should remain around the logo.
4. Minimum size: The logo must not be less than 20px in height, otherwise it loses readability.

Examples of correct and incorrect use:

✅ Correct: Xiaomi (orange text, sans serif font)




❌ Incorrect: XIAOMI (purple, capital letters)




❌ Wrong: Italic Xiaomi (unacceptable tilt)

For commercial use of the logo (e.g., on a store website), official permission from Xiaomi is required, without it you can run into a fine for copyright infringement. Detailed guidelines are available at mi.com/brand-guidelines.

Official vector file downloaded from Xiaomi| website

Color checked (#FF6900 for orange)|

Indentations around the logo |

No distortion or sprains |

Permitted (if used for commercial purposes)-->

How to write the names of Xiaomi models: Redmi, POCO, Mi and others

Beyond the brand itself, users are often confused about the Xiaomi series and models, and there are also nuances:

• 📱 Mi: Written through space - Mi 11, Mi Mix 4: MI11 or Mi-11;

Pay special attention to the spaces and the case. For example, RedmiNote10 is a bug, and Redmi Note 10 is the right one. These are the little things that are important when looking for drivers, firmware or accessories: spelling the model incorrectly can lead to incompatibility.

In 2023, Xiaomi simplified the nomenclature by removing the Mi from the names of flagships (for example, Xiaomi 13 instead of Mi 13).

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If you are looking for firmware or instructions, always check the exact model name on the official website. For example, the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11 Pro are different devices with different firmware!

Legal nuances: can you use the name Xiaomi in your business?

If you are planning to open a store, blog or service center related to Xiaomi appliances, it is important to know the legal restrictions.

1. Advertising: You can mention a brand in the text, but you can't use a logo without approval, except for affiliate programs (for example, Mi Authorized Store).

In 2022, Xiaomi sued a Russian company that registered domains with variations of the brand name (ksiaomi.ru, xiaomishop.ru), the lawsuit was satisfied, and the domains were transferred to the company, so it is better to check the database of Rospatent before registering the name.

⚠️ Note: If you are running a Telegram channel or a VKontakte group about Xiaomi, avoid names like “Xiaomi Russia” or “Official Xiaomi” and this can lead to blocking on the complaint of the copyright holder».

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Writing