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石油 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
石油shíyóuoilHSK 6, n, rank #4035, Medium
石油shíyóupetroleumHSK 6, n, rank #4035, Medium
shíyóu(shi2you2) T2
  1. 1oil
  2. 2petroleum
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March 24, 2026
石油shíyóu(shi2you2)

石油 (shí yóu) refers to oil or petroleum, a crucial natural resource used widely in energy, transportation, and various industries. It often appears in contexts related to economics, environmental discussions, and energy policies.

Frequency#4035DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In China, 石油 plays a significant role in the economy and energy strategy, particularly as the country aims for energy independence and sustainable development. The discovery and exploitation of oil fields have shaped modern industry and geopolitics in the region.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant stone (石) that holds a treasure of oil (油) inside. The stone represents the earth where oil is found, and the oil is a precious resource that fuels our modern lives. Think of 'shi' as 'sheen' for the shiny oil, making it easier to remember.

Meanings of 石油

shíyóu(shi2you2)
1oil
2petroleum
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 石油

石油Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4035Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 石油

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Podcast: 石油

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AI Study Notes for 石油

Quick Contrast

原油 (yuányóu) refers specifically to crude oil, while 石油 (shíyóu) can refer to both crude oil and refined oil products; use 石油 for broader contexts.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant stone (石) that holds a treasure of oil (油) inside. The stone represents the earth where oil is found, and the oil is a precious resource that fuels our modern lives. Think of 'shi' as 'sheen' for the shiny oil, making it easier to remember.

Usage Notes

When discussing石油, be mindful of its formal register, especially in business or environmental contexts. Common collocations include '石油价格' (oil prices) and '石油产业' (oil industry). A common mistake is confusing it with '油' (yóu), which can refer to any type of oil, not just petroleum.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 石油 connects to other economic and environmental terms at this level, such as '能源' (energy) and '资源' (resources). Focus on its usage in discussions about energy policies and economic impacts.

Cultural Note

In China, 石油 plays a significant role in the economy and energy strategy, particularly as the country aims for energy independence and sustainable development. The discovery and exploitation of oil fields have shaped modern industry and geopolitics in the region.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 石油 in informal conversations where 油 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我买了石油来炒菜' (I bought oil to cook), instead of '我买了油来炒菜'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 石油

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Component Characters

石dàndry measure for grain equal to ten dou 斗
5 strokes石
View full entry
油yóuoil
HSK 48 strokes氵
View full entry

Write 石油

石
油

Practice writing 石油 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 石油

石油 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

现急需煤炭、____、电力及其他能源。

Coal, petroleum, electricity, and other energy sources are urgently needed.

Example Sentences for 石油 (10)

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1
石油工程师规划并管理石油的提炼。

shí yóu gōng chéng shī guī huá bìng guǎn lǐ shí yóu de tí liàn。

Petroleum engineers plan and manage the extraction of oil.
2
奥瑞克斯是一家设在达拉斯的石油和天然气勘探生产公司。

ào ruì kè sī shì yī jiā shè zài dá lā sī de shí yóu hé tiān rán qì kān tàn shēng chǎn gōng sī。

Oryx is a Dallas-based oil and gas exploration and production concern.
3
这场大火使科威特的石油产业陷入悲惨的境地。

zhè cháng dà huǒ shǐ kē wēi tè de shí yóu chǎn yè xiàn rù bēi cǎn de jìng dì。

The fire left Kuwait's oil industry in a sorry state.
4
一名石油公司主管从其公司骗取了5万英镑。

yī míng shí yóu gōng sī zhǔ guǎn cóng qí gōng sī piàn qǔ le5 5 wàn yīng。

An oil executive swindled £50,000 out of his firm.
5
那大约相当于目前国际石油市场价格的一半。

nà dà yuē xiāng dāng yú mù qián guó jì shí yóu shì cháng jià gé de yī bàn。

That's about half the going price on world oil markets.
6
霍顿在英国石油公司漫长的职业生涯中曾经让两个部门整体上起死回生。

huò dùn zài yīng guó shí yóu gōng sī màn cháng de zhí yè shēng yá zhōng zēng jīng ràng liǎng gè bù mén zhěng tǐ shàng qǐ sǐ huí shēng。

In his long career at BP, Horton turned around two entire divisions.
7
化石燃料（如煤和石油）属于有限资源。

huà shí rán liào（ （ rú méi hé shí） yóu ） shǔ yú yǒu xiàn。

The fossil fuels (coal and oil) are finite resources.
8
这家石油公司和埃索公司角逐英国市场销量的榜首位置。

zhè jiā shí yóu gōng sī hé āi suǒ gōng sī jiǎo zhú yīng guó shì cháng xiāo liáng de bǎng shǒu wèi zhì。

The oil company jousts with Esso for lead position in UK sales.
9
我们在南美洲为一些大公司探测石油和矿石。

wǒ mén zài nán měi zhōu wéi yī xiē dà gōng sī tàn cè shí yóu hé kuàng shí。

We dowse oil and ore in South America for big companies.
10
石油输出国组织的每个成员国都寻求最大限度地提高本国石油产量。

shí yóu shū chū guó zǔ zhī de měi gè chéng yuán guó dū xún qiú zuì dà xiàn dù dì tí gāo běn guó shí yóu chǎn liáng。

Each member of OPEC would seek to maximize its own production.

Cultural Notes for 石油

🏮Cultural insight

In China, 石油 plays a significant role in the economy and energy strategy, particularly as the country aims for energy independence and sustainable development. The discovery and exploitation of oil fields have shaped modern industry and geopolitics in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions about 石油

石油 specifically refers to petroleum, while 油 is a more general term for any kind of oil, including cooking oil.