The word 聚碳酸酯 is formed by combining 聚, meaning polymerization, with 碳酸酯, which denotes carbonate ester. 碳 represents carbon, 酸 means acid, and together 碳酸 translates to carbonic acid; 酯 means ester, so 碳酸酯 is carbonate ester. Thus, 聚碳酸酯 literally signifies the polymer derived from carbonate esters, corresponding to the chemical term polycarbonate.