The Chinese word 反式脂肪 is formed by combining the morphemes 反 (meaning "reverse" or "opposite"), 式 (meaning "type" or "form"), and 脂肪 (meaning "fat"). The term 反式 directly translates the chemical prefix "trans-" used to describe a molecular structure with components on opposite sides, and it acts as a modifier for 脂肪 to specify this particular type of fat.