The national standard for terminology is a fundamental standard, and the scientificity of the standard plays a key role in the development of the discipline. Brittle structures are an important field of geological research. The GB/T 17412.3-1998“Classification and Naming Scheme of Metamorphic Rocks” implemented in 1999 includes the terms of cataclasite, which established a unified standard for the classification and nomenclature of brittle tectonite that has been debated for a long time. However, the terminology of cataclasite has problems such as unclear meaning, incomplete coverage, and insufficient Coverage. After pointing out specific problems and discussing them, this article proposes revision suggestions and proposed solutions from the perspectives of terminology sources, research methods, and experimental results，The definition, relationship, and production space of cataclasite and fault breccia in brittle tectonite have been clearly defined. Geological science involves a vast sea of terminology, and this article takes brittle tectonite as an example to arouse people's attention to the complexity of geological terminology issues.