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1. Have you ever wondered why Chinese family names come first and given names come second?
2. How do Chinese parents choose names for their children?
3. Why might your Chinese friends call you “Xiao ...” or “Lao ...”? What do you think these nicknames mean?
Some names are long, others are short. In some cultures, the family name comes first, while in others it comes at the end. We're looking into the fascinating world of Chinese names. We'll learn how these names reflect deep-rooted cultural values, symbolising respect for family and traditions. We'll also discover the differences between family names and given names , and the significance behind them. Lastly, we'll learn about the customs, meanings, and stories behind Chinese names, and gain insight into how to properly address people in China.
M at 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?
J ocelyn Chinese names are always written with the 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 the 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.
M at 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 I should know about Chinese family names.
J ocelyn I think most family names in China are just one syllable, like my family name, Wang. Although two-syllable family names exist, like Ouyang, they are not very common. And the most common family names in China, shared by a lot of people, might be Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu, 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 a large proportion of China's total population.
M at 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?
J ocelyn 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, and 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 Li Xiaohua.
So, sometimes the two words in the given name are the same, like Zhang Xiaoxiao. Sometimes the given names are different, another example would be Li Xiaohua. Li is her family name and Xiaohua 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 the 1950s. So many given names are based on the female or male qualities, with suggestions of strength, bravery for males, and peace, beauty, fragrance for females.
For example, common feminine given names are things like Hua (flower), and Mei (beauty). And common masculine names might be Qiang (strength) and 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.
M at 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?
J ocelyn 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 Ms. Wang rather than Ms. 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. Cheng or Ms. Wang.
Don't just use the given name; only very close friends will just use the given name.
M at 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 a little bit like Mat in Chinese. But I've heard some older people, like my friend's grandma, call 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?
J ocelyn OK, this is the first time I've 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,” which 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.
M at OK, so next time someone calls me “Lao Mai,” I should take this as a compliment. They are not calling me an 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.
Look at the mind map below and try to introduce Chinese names in English.
family name, surname 姓氏
The “family name” or “surname” is the name that is shared by members of a family. It comes first in Chinese names, and it shows the person's family or ancestry. In many cultures, including Chinese culture, the family name is passed down from the father.
personal name, given name 名
The “personal name,” also known as the “given name,” is the name chosen for an individual by their parents. This name comes after the family name in Chinese culture. It is a personal name that can have special meanings, often related to good wishes for the child's future.
address 称呼
In Chinese culture, how you “address” someone (speak to them) depends on your relationship with them. Close friends or family members may use the given name, but it is more polite to use the full name or family name with a title in most situations.
name order 姓名顺序
“Name order” is just which name goes first. In Chinese culture, the family name is placed before the personal name, while in many Western cultures, the surname comes last. This order shows the importance of the family and not the individual.
clan 家族
A “clan” is a large family group, often with shared ancestry or a common surname. In traditional Chinese culture, people are often very proud of their family or clan's history, and the clan name is considered important for showing respect and honour.
family comes first 家庭第一
“Family comes first” is a phrase that means family is the most important thing in someone's life. It suggests that before anything else, like work or other activities, one's family should be given the highest priority.
feminine given name 女性名字
“Feminine given names” are names typically given to girls. These names often have meanings of beauty, grace, or softness.
masculine name 男性名字
“Masculine names” are names given to boys. These names often have meanings of strength, power, or bravery.
nickname 昵称
A “nickname” is a familiar or fun name given to a person, often used by close friends or family members. It can be shorter or more personal than the person's full name.
maiden name 娘家姓
The “maiden name” is the family name a woman has before marriage. In many cultures, a woman changes her surname after marriage, but in Chinese culture, women often keep their maiden names.
generational name 辈分字
A “generational name” is a name shared by members of the same generation within a family. It is part of a tradition in Chinese culture to help identify which generation a person belongs to within the extended family.
full name 全名
The “full name” is a person's complete name, which includes their family name and given name. In Chinese culture, the full name typically includes the family name followed by the personal name.
stage name 艺名
A “stage name” is a name used by performers, artists, or celebrities, different from their real or given name. In Chinese culture, a stage name is often chosen for its symbolic meaning or for easier recognition.
name change 改名
A “name change” means the act of changing one's name. In Chinese culture, name changes can be rare and often carry significant personal or cultural meaning.
For multiple-choice questions, choose the right answer. For all the other questions, write short answers below.
1. From the text, how do parents in the UK choose a name for a child?
a) Following ancient family traditions.
b) Using deep meanings.
c) For social status.
d) According to what's fashionable.
2. Mat asks, “What's the correct way to address people in China?” In the text, find a verb to replace “address.”
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3. When Mat says, “I should take this as a compliment,” what does “compliment” mean?
a) Extra information.
b) Something impolite.
c) Kind words.
d) Complaining.
4. According to the text, Chinese parents might select names that mean: (list FOUR nouns)
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5. Some names symbolise female or male characteristics. From the text, list TWO each for male and female characteristics. (name and characteristic)
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