Possible Attitudes behind Your Chinese Name When Translated

Generally speaking, every Chinese character has a basic emotional property, varying from neutral, positive to negative (sometimes hostile). Practically, in contemporary, several characters has dropped into a group that consists of items without actual meaning, just simple ones applied as a pure name.

For example, in the Era of Warring States (from 475 BC to 221 BC), there were seven main states in China under the nominal governance of one supreme monarch. Those states owned their names with seven different Chinese characters respectively, “齐”(Qí), “楚” (Chŭ), “燕” (Yān), “韩” (Hán), “赵” (Zhào), “魏” (Wèi), “秦” (Qín). Among them, five names (except the first two) are now regarded as not only neutral, but also meaningless characters. Plus, they are also commonly used as surnames across China.  

On the other hand, attitudes towards some foreign people showed by Chinese people may be perceivable by judging what characters are selected when translated. If some obscure or strange (not commonly used for names) characters are chosen, then it is very likely that that guy is not a popular figure. In contrast, once some emotional and positive characters are remarked, it reflects that the target people earn more appreciation or respect from Chinese people.

Here comes some examples that I personally treat as decent Chinese names based on either semantic strategy or phonetic strategy given by both Chinese people and the figures themselves (some of them are good at Chinese culture indeed):

Sir Cecil Clementi, 1875-1947, “金文泰” (Jīn Wéntài, means “master of knowledge”)

A British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Hong Kong from 1925–30, and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Straits Settlements from 1930–34.

Robert van Gulik, 1910-1967, “高罗佩” (Gāo Luópèi, has no specific means, but looks so indigenous)

A highly educated Dutch orientalist, diplomat, musician (of the guqin), and writer, best known for the Judge Dee mysteries, the protagonist of which he borrowed from the 18th-century Chinese detective novel Dee Goong An.

Igor Alexeevich Rogachev, 1932- , “罗高寿” (Luó Gāoshòu, means “longevous”)

The former Russian ambassador in the People's Republic of China, also known as a orientalist.

Auguste François, 1857-1935, “方苏雅” (Fāng Sūyǎ, means “elegant”)

A French consul first in Paraguay between 1893 and 1895 then in southern China between 1896 and 1904, first in Longzhou in Guangxi province and Kunming in Yunnan.

In conclusion, if you do not want to be remarked with positive or at least neutral meaning on your Chinese name, just search help from your Chinese friends and, from us – a stunning place to make you satisfied in terms of Chinese culture~

Interesting Meanings behind those Chinese Surnames

Interesting Meanings behind those Chinese Surnames

Arsenal Manager, Arsene Wenger in Beijing, with his supporters showing his name in Chinese.

Chinese characters can be seen as a vast resource of literature whose volume is about 100 thousand. However, compared with the huge size of characters, the amount of surnames used in China is thought as only around 4000, which is far smaller than the total vocabulary.

Nowadays a typical Chinese surname applies one or two characters. Therefore the length a full Chinese name varies from two to four characters. Here comes some names of Chinese celebrities as examples: the pianist Lang Lang (郎朗, 2 characters); “Chairman Mao”-Mao Zedong (毛泽东, 3 characters), the calligrapher Ouyang Zhongshi (欧阳中石, 4 characters).

Chinese Pianist Lang Lang

Behind those common-used surnames, various interesting meanings can be perceived and sometimes have particular effects when people are introduced to their new friends.

For examples: beautiful flowers like “梅” (Méi), Plum Blossom, “桂” (Gùi), Sweet Osmanthus, “兰” (Lán), Orchid, etc.

Ordinary animals like “马” (Mǎ), horse, “牛” (Niú), ox, “骆” (Luò), camel, are shared by plenty of families.

Even adjectives such as “母” (Mǔ), female and “公” (Gōng) male as gender marks are chosen, quite particular indeed. By the way, here these two cannot indicate their actual genders!

More introductions will be available soon, as I finished my statistics class recently, which often drove me mad before…XD