阿斯 (Āsī): As- / Ass- (phonetic transliter…

Meanings

1 As- / Ass- (phonetic transliteration prefix for foreign names)
2 shorthand element seen in 阿斯利康 (AstraZeneca), 阿斯顿马丁 (Aston Martin), 阿斯匹林 (aspirin), 阿斯伯格 (Asperger), 阿斯塔纳 (Astana)

Characters

阿

ā

prefix particle (used for transliteration and familiar address)

斯

sī

this / thus (classical); commonly used for foreign 's' sounds

Examples

阿斯利康是一家英国制药公司。

Āsīlìkāng shì yī jiā Yīngguó zhìyào gōngsī.

AstraZeneca is a British pharmaceutical company.

阿斯顿·马丁是英国豪华跑车品牌。

Āsīdùn·Mǎdīng shì Yīngguó háohuá pǎochē pǐnpái.

Aston Martin is a British luxury sports car brand.

Tips

usage

阿斯 rarely appears alone — it's the standard syllable pair for foreign 'as-' / 'aas' sounds, where 阿 (ā) carries the open vowel and 斯 (sī) supplies the sibilant. Note 阿 is the same prefix used in 阿姨 (āyí, auntie) and many other transliterations like 阿拉伯 (Arab).