Dr. Zhang Yong Ling is back with us once again to share her insights on the importance of Chinese names, naming traditions, and the story behind her own names (both Chinese and English). This elementary lesson is not a simple, "What is your name?" episode that a lot of beginner level language programs start with, but rather it's a more in-depth cultural look at the beauty and love of what's lies behind the most fundamental thing about all of us: our names.

Have any questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

Vocabulary

1. 请 Qǐng - please

2. 叫 Jiào - to call

3. 名字 Míngzì - name

4. 很像 Hěn xiàng - very similar to

5. 给。。。起。。Gěi... Qǐ..give a name

6. 开始 Kāishǐ - begin

7. 对。。。来说。。。Duì... Lái shuō - As far as …is concerned, to,

8. 重要 Zhòngyào- important

9. 好听 Hǎotīng- sounds good

10. 又。。。又。。。Yòu... Yòu...- both…and

11. 告诉 Gàosù - to tell

12. 一定 Yīdìng- certainly

13. 加油 Jiāyóu - Go for it, (in this context - good luck!)

男：你好，小莉！(Nǐ hǎo, xiǎo lì!) Hey, Xiao Li!

女：你好，Jack！(Nǐ hǎo,Jack!) Hey, Jack!

男：小莉，请叫我我李文杰。(Xiǎo lì, qǐng jiào wǒ wǒ Lǐwénjié)

Xiao Li, please call me Li Wen Jie.

女：啊哈，你有中文名字了！(A hā, nǐ yǒu zhòng wén míngzìle! )

Ah.., you have a Chinese name now!

男：是啊。你喜欢吗？(Shì a. Nǐ xǐhuān ma?)I do. Do you like it?

女：我很喜欢。杰听起来很像Jack。文就是中文的文吗？(Wǒ hěn xǐhuān. Jié tīng qǐlái hěn xiàng Jack. "Wén" jiùshì zhōngwén de "wén" ma? )

I like it a lot. It sounds a lot like "Jack". Is the "Wen" from Zhong "Wen"?

男：对，我喜欢中文。(Duì, wǒ xǐhuān zhōngwén). Yes. I like Chinese.

女：这个名字很好。你姓Leeman，李文杰是个很好的中文名字。(Zhège míngzì hěn hǎo. Nǐ xìng Leeman, lǐwénjié shìgè hěn hǎo de zhōngwén míngzì.)

It's a very good name. Your last name is Leeman, so Li Wen Jie is a very good Chinese name.

男：谢谢！(Xièxiè! )Thanks!

女：谁给你起的中文名字？(Shéi gěi nǐ qǐ de zhōngwén míngzì?)

Who came up with your Chinese name?

男：我的中国朋友陈伟。他说，我开始学习中文了，我得有个中文名字。(Wǒ de zhōngguó péngyǒu chén wěi. Tā shuō, wǒ kāishǐ xuéxí zhōngwén le, wǒ dé yǒu gè zhōngwén míngzì.)

My Chinese friend, Chen Wei. He said, I should have a Chinese name since I've starting studying Chinese.

女：我喜欢！名字对中国人来说很重要，又要好听，又要有好的意思。你知道杰的意思吗？(Wǒ xǐhuān! Míngzì duì zhōngguó rén lái shuō hěn zhòngyào, yòu yào hǎotīng, yòu yào yǒu hǎo de yìsi. Nǐ zhīdào jié de yìsi ma? )

I like it! Names are very important to Chinese people. They have to sound good as well as have a good meaning. Do you know what "Jie" means?

男：我不知道。(Wǒ bù zhīdào.) I don't know.

女：我告诉你吧。杰的意思就是"Outstanding"(Wǒ gàosù nǐ ba. Jié de yìsi jiùshì "Outstanding".)

Then I'll tell you. It means, "outstanding".

男：哇！那我一定要好好学习中文.(Wa! Nà wǒ yīdìng yào hǎo hào xuéxí zhōngwén. )

Wow! I'd better learn Chinese really well then.

女：加油！(Jiāyóu!) You can do it!