Chinese Names
Welcome to this edition of China Lifestyle Journeys, the series that brings you chats, discussions and insights on all aspects of Chinese living. We will cover festivals, food, traditions, customs and much, much more. I’m your host Jocelyn … and I’m Mat, just an English guy with lots of questions.
So, Mat, what’s your big question today?
(Mat)
Today we are talking about Chinese names. Now, I know that the obvious difference between Chinese names and names in the English-speaking world, is that the name order is different. In the English-speaking world we put the family name last, in Chinese names the family name comes first. Is there a reason for that?
(Jocelyn)
Chinese names are always written surname, or family name first, and the personal, or given name second. This is because traditionally, people need to show respect to their family or clan; and individual person is not as important as the family. And the family is the most important thing, family comes first, so the family name comes first.
(Mat)
OK – so let’s talk a bit more about surnames– I think it’s easier if we call them family names. We’ll call the Chinese names family names and the western names surnames. I think that’s easier. Tell me what should I know about Chinese family names.
(Jocelyn)
I think most family names in China are just one syllable, like my family name Wang. Although two-syllable family names exist, like Ouyang, but they are not very common. And the most common family name in China, shared by a lot of people might be王(Wang)、李(Li)、张(Zhang)、刘(Liu)、陈(Chen). And there are actually thousands of Chinese family names, but many of these are very rare, we don’t see them very often. So, in fact the 100 most common surnames, are used by almost 85% of China's total population.
(Mat)
OK, so I think I understand family names a bit more. Now let’s talk about given names. So, in my culture, I’m English of course, names for children are chosen in a fairly simple way. Certain names are fashionable at certain times during certain years, and many parents will choose a name that is popular at the time of the child’s birth. Sometimes these names are influenced by popular culture. For example, if there is a very popular TV star, pop star or movie star called Rosie, then many people will name a baby girl ‘Rosie’. Just because it’s fashionable. Now in my class at school, there were four of us called Mat because Mat was a popular name at that time. Is it the same with Chinese given names? Is that how Chinese parents choose a given name for their kids?
(Jocelyn)
In China, when a baby is born, a given name must be chosen. Most given names are one syllable, like my name, my family name is Wang, my given name is Jun. It means a kind of beautiful jade. It’s one word. Some people have two syllables, two words as their given name, like my boss Yu Minhong.
So, sometimes the two words in the given name are the same like the famous actress, Li Bingbing. Sometimes the given names are different, another example would be Liu Yifei. Liu is her family name and Yifei is the given name.
So Chinese parents do not choose a name because it’s fashionable. Names are chosen for their important social or deeper philosophical meanings and are typically chosen for their symbolism.
So I know a lot of people…their given names are Jianhua, Jianguo and Guoqing, because they were born in 1950s. So many given names are based on the female and male qualities, with suggestions of strength, bravery for males and peace, beauty, fragrance for females.
For example, common feminine given names are things like, 花(Hua) – flower; 美(Mei) – beauty. And common masculine names might be 强 (qiang) – strength and 成(cheng) – success.
Most Chinese people believe that a good name brings luck, and a bad name may bring bad luck. So for this reason, Chinese parents prefer to choose names that mean luck, success, health and beauty.
(Mat)
OK – that’s quite different to how my parents chose my name. So now we know something more about family names and given names. I have another question. What do I call you? I know your name is Wang Jun. So do I call you Wang? Do I call you Jun? Do I call you Miss Jun? Miss Wang? Miss Wang Jun? What’s the correct way to address people in China?
(Jocelyn)
If you meet someone called Cheng Long, or like my name Wang Jun, then you should address him as Mr Cheng, not Mr Long. For me, call me Mrs Wang rather than Mrs Jun. So the simple rule, in most situations the full name is the easiest way. Cheng Long, or Wang Jun, ok? Or in an English-speaking environment, you call Mr Chen or Mrs Wang.
Don’t just use the given name, only very close friends will just use the given name.
(Mat)
OK, so if I’m not sure – I use the full name. I have another question. So, my name is Mat, sometimes my Chinese friends call me Maimai, because it sounds like a little like Mat in Chinese. But I’ve heard some older people, like my friend’s grandma called me Xiao Mai, like little Mai, and someone, I think my friend’s uncle once called me Lao Mai, like old Mai. Now this sounds quite strange in English. Can you explain why they do this? What does this mean?
(Jocelyn)
OK, this is the first time I heard people call you Xiao Mai, Lao Mai. OK, this is very common among very close friends and family. So in China Lao literally just means “old”. Xiao means “young” or “little.” But when we use these words before names, they do not refer to age specifically, it’s more like familiarity.
For example, when someone calls you Lao Mai. While the literal translation is old Mai, sounds offensive in English ears, yeah? But it actually means that the speaker has known you for a long time, or feels that you have a long relationship with him or her. So, it does not mean that the speaker thinks that you are literally ‘old’. In the same way, Xiao, little, before a name like Xiao Mai shows affection or kindness. So, these are two ways that Chinese people can express respect and affection for each other. Now you understand.
(Mat)
OK, so I next time sometime someone calls me ‘Lao Mai’ – I should take this as a compliment. They are not calling me old man Mat. OK, so I’ve learned quite a lot about Chinese names today, and I should say thank you very much, Ms Wang or Wang Jun, for helping me understand names a little bit more.
Well, that’s it for today. We hope you enjoyed this episode, thanks for listening. We hope to see you again next time. Until then, goodbye. Stay wise.
Key words and expressions:
family name/surname：姓
personalname/given name：名
clan n. /klæn/
group of people related by blood or marriage
宗族，氏族
例如：There's a photo of the whole Kennedy clan on the bookshelf. 书架上有一张肯尼迪家族全部成员的合照。
…come(s) first
以……先，…..是第一位的，……至上
例如：Public affairs should come first. 还是公事要紧。
syllable n. /ˈsɪləbl/
A syllable contains a vowel sound and usually one or more consonants.
音节。单个元音可以是一个音节，比如“a”，一个元音加上一个或者多个辅音也可以构成一个音节，比如单词“skip”
例如：‘Potato’ is stressed on the second syllable. Potato这个单词的重音在第二个音节上。
rare adj. /reə(r)/
marked by an uncommon quality
少见的，不常发生的
例如：a rare skill/disease/event 少见的技能/疾病/事件
fashionable adj. /ˈfæʃnəbl/
following a style that is popular at a particular time
fashion时尚的形容词。流行的，时髦的
例如：fashionable clothes/ideas/styles 流行的衣服/观点/风格
at the time of
在……的时候
例如：The house was unoccupied at the time of the explosion. 爆炸时这座房子里没有人。
jade n. /dʒeɪd/
a deep green gemstone that is used in making jewellery and beautiful objects
玉，翡翠
例如：a jade necklace 一条翡翠项链
philosophical adj. /ˌfɪləˈsɒfɪkl/
of or relating to philosophy or philosophers
philosophy哲学的形容词。哲学的
例如：philosophical discussions about free will 有关自由意志的哲学讨论
symbolism n. /ˈsɪmbəlɪzəm/
the use of symbols to represent ideas, especially in art and literature
象征，象征主义
例如：She didn’t know the symbolism of the song. 她不知道那首歌的象征意义。
fragrance n. /ˈfreɪɡrəns/
a pleasant smell
芳香，香气
例如：The air was full of the fragrance of flowers. 空气中充满了花香。
feminineadj. /ˈfemənɪn/
having the qualities or appearance considered to be typical of women
女性特有的，女子气的
例如：That dress makes you look very feminine. 那件裙子你穿起来很有女人味。
masculine adj. /ˈmæskjəlɪn/
having the qualities or appearance considered to be typical of men
feminine的反义词。男子的；男子气概的
例如：He was handsome and strong, and very masculine. 他英俊强壮，富有男子汉气概。
address v. /əˈdres/
greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name
这里的address当作动词，意思是称呼（某人）
例如：He always addresses me with Sir. 他总是用先生来称呼我。
literallyadv. /ˈlɪtərəli/
in a literal sense
按照字面意义地
例如：Idioms usually cannot be translated literally into another language. 俗语通常不能按字面意思翻译成另一种语言。
familiarity n. /fəˌmɪliˈærəti/
the state of knowing somebody/something well
熟悉，亲切感
例如：When she saw the house, she had a feeling of familiarity. 她见到这座房子就有一种熟悉的感觉。
affection n. /əˈfekʃn/
a positive feeling of liking
喜爱，关爱
例如：She thought of him with affection. 她怀着喜爱想起了他。
compliment n. /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/
an expression of respect or admiration
赞扬，称赞
文中take this as a compliment 意思是把它当成是一种称赞
