Table of Contents
Why do Chinese pick an English name?
Chinese people began to give themselves English names after the Reform and Opening Up in the late 1970s, when they were exposed increasingly to western cultures. For many, English names are informal haos that represent another layer of identity.
Should I use English name?
Do I need an English name? The short answer is ‘no’. The name that your parents gave you at birth is as much a part of your identity as your personality, qualifications and skills. There is nothing wrong with entering the workplace in an English-speaking country and introducing yourself with your own name.
Should I adopt an English name?
Many people adopt English names that are very old-fashioned and/or have very specific connotations. It is totally your choice, and, if your name really is extremely difficult to pronounce then it might be a sensible one.
How are Chinese names picked?
The family name (or ‘surname’) is inherited from one’s parents and shared with other members of the individual’s immediate family . It always comes before the given name and is usually a single syllable/Chinese character. The given name (or ‘personal name’) is chosen at birth as the individual’s personal identifier.
Why Chinese change their names?
Especially in China, many want their names to sound more modern and less common so they can stand out in the crowd when they look for jobs”. “Some parents want to change their offspring’s names, so they get to the top in class.
Why do so many Chinese people have English names?
So by working for, say, 3M, Chinese citizens are helping to build up China, and the English names they take on in the process are as patriotic as Cultural Revolution-era monikers like Ai Guo (Loves China) or Wei Dong (Mao’s Protector). Taking English names also fits with various traditional Chinese naming practices.
Are there any examples of common given names in Chinese?
Finally, this guide will provide Romanization and audio files for 1) common Chinese surnames and 2) the names of faculty members and some graduate students of the Chinese program at SILC as examples since there are no common given names in Chinese.
Is taking an English name kowtowing to China?
But Duthie’s participants insisted that taking an English name isn’t kowtowing, nor is it simply utilitarian. Rather, it’s essential to being Chinese and achieving Chinese goals. Whereas in the past patriotism was expressed by self-sacrifice, it is now expressed through economic activity.
How many syllables are there in a Chinese name?
Most Chinese names consist of a surname (mostly single syllable) and followed by a given name (this could be one or two syllables). Many Chinese abroad nowadays choose to introduce themselves with given name first as in the western custom (for example, Yoyo Ma rather than Ma Yoyo).