Hiaomi or Xiaomi – what is the correct name for Xiaomi in Russian?

The debate over how to pronounce the Chinese brand name Xiaomi has been going on for more than a decade, with some insisting on calling the technique “Hiaomi,” others insisting on “Xiaomi,” and still others using the transliteration “Siaomi” or “Xiaomi,” the reason for the confusion lies in the peculiarities of Chinese, where the character (Xiaomi) literally means “mellow” – a modest cereal plant that symbolizes the availability of technology for everyone.

There is no single standard for Chinese audio transmission in Russian, so the brand has faced an adaptation problem. Xiaomi has officially fixed the Xiaomi version for the Russian-language market, but this does not prevent users and the media from using alternative versions. Even in the documentation for devices, you can find different spellings, depending on the year of release and the region of localization. For example, in the early firmware of smartphones, there was “Hiaomi”, and in the new instructions only “Xiaomi”.

But why is it so hard to reach consensus? The fact is that the Chinese “x” sound is transmitted in Russian in different ways: in some words it is closer to the “s” (as in “Xiaomi”), and in others it is closer to the “x” (as in “Hiaomi”). In addition, the brand has been actively promoted in the West through the English pronunciation of “Shaomi” (Shaomi), which further confused users. In this article, we will understand what is considered correct in 2026, how the name is reflected in official documents and what experts think about it.

Why there is confusion: the linguistic roots of the problem

Chinese relies on tones and sounds that are difficult to accurately convey in the Russian alphabet. The character is read as "xiao mi", where the "x" in pinyin (the official transliteration system) denotes a sound that is average between "s" and "s." In Russian there is no exact analogue, so variants arise:

• “Xiaomi” – as close as possible to the original sound, recommended by the company itself.

"Hiaomi" - appeared because of the association with the English "Shaomi" (as the brand was presented in the West in the 2010s).

"Siaomi" - a rare variant, found in old translations.

Xiaomi – an attempt to convey the softness of the “x” sound, but did not catch on.

⚠️ Note: Official Xiaomi Russia documents have only used the Xiaomi variant since 2018, and all other spellings are considered outdated or incorrect.

Interestingly, even in China, the brand is sometimes called "Mi" in the second character, which is often used colloquially, but the full name remains in official sources (Xiaomi).

Xiaomi’s official position: What does the company say?

Xiaomi has repeatedly stated the preferred pronunciation option for the Russian-speaking market: in 2017, at a presentation in Moscow, the brand representatives focused on “Xiaomi”, and in 2020 this rule was enshrined in the guidelines for partners and media.

Here are the key points from official sources:

• 📄 Documentation: In the instructions for smartphones, routers and smart devices (starting with the Mi 9 and Redmi Note 8) used “Xiaomi».
• 🗣️ Advertising: In Russian commercials and banners announcers pronounce “Xiaomi” (example: advertising Xiaomi) 13T Pro 2023).
• 🌍 Localization: On the site mi.com/ru into URL and texts fixed version of "Xiaomi».

However, in some CIS countries (for example, in Ukraine or Kazakhstan) you can still find "Hiaomi" - this is due to the fact that local distributors do not always follow a single standard, and in old firmware (before MIUI 10) in the language settings, the "Hiaomi" variant could come across, but now this is fixed.

How to write correctly: the rules of the Russian language

Linguistically, the transmission of Chinese proper names in Russian is regulated by transliteration norms, and for the sound “x” to pinyin, it is recommended to use a “c” before the vowels “I”, “e”, “e”, “and”, which explains the choice of “Xiaomi”.

Compared to other Chinese brands:

• 📱 Huawei → «Huawei (here, “h” is translated as “x” and “w” as “in” is translated as “in»).
• 💻 Lenovo → «Lenovo (here the transliteration is as close as possible to the original).
• 🎮 Xiaomi → «Xiaomi (not Hiaomi because the x before the ia is closer to the shiaomi»).

Linguist Marina Koroleva (Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences) in an interview for Meduza noted:

“There is no universal rule for the Chinese ‘x’ in Russian. For Xiaomi, the ‘Xiaomi’ is more correct because it reflects the softness of the sound. ‘Hiaomi’ is a hypercorrection influenced by English pronunciation.”

Both variants are permissible in colloquial speech, but in written sources (articles, instructions, news) the official “Xiaomi” should be adhered to.

How the name is reflected in firmware and device settings

If you look at the menu of Xiaomi smartphones or smart devices, you can see interesting nuances. Depending on the version of MIUI and the region of the firmware, the brand name can be displayed in different ways:

The table shows that the transition to Xiaomi occurred around 2018-2019, when the company increased localization for the Russian market. In global firmware (for example, for Europe), the name often remains in the Latin alphabet - "Xiaomi", without transliteration.

To check what name is used in your device:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Look at the line with the brand name.
3. If there is "Hiaomi", then you have an old firmware - it is recommended to update.

💡

If your smartphone displays “Hiaomi”, but you want to bring it in line with current standards, update the firmware through Settings → System → Update MIUI.

How to pronounce the name in different countries

Interestingly, the confusion with the name Xiaomi exists not only in Russia, but in different countries the brand is called differently, based on the peculiarities of the local languages:

• 🇺🇸 United States/UK: Shaomi – due to English transcription of “x” as “sh».
• 🇩🇪 Germany: Xiaomi – the sound “x” is translated as “x».
• 🇫🇷 France: Xiaomi (close to the original.
• 🇮🇳 India: Ziaomi - due to the pronunciation of "x" in Hindi.
• 🇯🇵 Japan: Shaomi - adapted to the Japanese eagle.

In China, the brand is simply called “Xiao Mi,” where “xiao” means “small” and “mi” means “rice” (or “melley”), reflecting the company’s philosophy of making technology available like a grain of millet.

For Russian-speaking users, it is useful to remember:

⚠️ Note: If you are communicating with Xiaomi Russia support, use Xiaomi, which will speed up the solution to your problem.

Myths and misconceptions about the name Xiaomi

There are many myths surrounding Xiaomi's pronunciation, and we'll look at the most popular ones.

❌ «Hiaomi is the old name, and Xiaomi is the new name.

✅ In fact, both variants existed in parallel, but “Xiaomi” became official only after 2018.

❌ «Siaomi” is a mistake, there is no such option.

✅ «Siaomi is found in early translations (e.g., in the 2014 Mi 3 instructions), but is not currently used.

❌ «The company itself does not know how to do it.»

✅ Xiaomi clearly fixed “Xiaomi” for the Russian language in corporate guidelines.

❌ «In China, everyone says, "Hiaomi».»

✅ In China, the brand is called “Xiao Mi”, and “Hiaomi” is a distortion caused by English transliteration.

❌ «If you say "Hiaomi," I will not be understood.»

✅ In colloquial speech, both options are clear, but in official situations it is better to use “Xiaomi».

💡

The official version is "Xiaomi," but in informal communication, both pronunciations are acceptable, as long as the interlocutor understands you!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi pronunciation