1932年,当时的教育部颁布的《化学命名原则》为中文化学名词确立了统一的标准,其制定的许多名词一直沿用至今。《原则》对于“元素及化合物定名取字”提出“取字应以谐声为主,会意次之,不重象形”的定名总则,并据此拟定了大量全新的音译名称,如苯、萘、蒽、菲等。它所确立的三个名词烷、烯、炔却是旧有意译名,看似与其音译为主的命名原则相悖。本文讨论了烷、烯、炔的各种历史译名,对三者为何被《原则》采纳作出了合理的解释。 In 1932, when the “Principles of Chemical Nomenclature” promulgated by the Ministry of Education at that time established a unified standard for Chinese chemical terms, many of the terms it has formulated are still in use today. The “Principles” set out a number of brand-new transliteration names for the “Generalization of Names of Elements and Compounds” Benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, Philippines and so on. The three nouns of alkane, alkene and alkyne, which they established, are the old intentional translations that appear to contradict their naming principles of transliteration. This article discusses the various historical names of alkanes, alkenes and alkynes, and gives a reasonable explanation of why the three were adopted by the “principle.”