Understanding What’s Behind A Chinese Name
The differences between traditional western and Chinese names are significant. The Chinese put the family (or “last”) name first, then the given birth name. Chinese family names are what is known in the western world as a surname. This comes before the given name. As such, it is the second name that should be used to address a Chinese in the western world.
For the Chinese, marrying another with the same family name is considered to be taboo. Yet, contemporary society suggests that this superstition is practiced less today. To further this claim, it is estimated that there are only around twenty commonly used family names, while there are over seven hundred in existence.
With western acquaintances, the culture differences are astute when dealing with names. English speakers may have difficulty pronouncing the true full name of a Chinese counterpart, and thus many Chinese adopt Romanized names to combat this fault. This also helps with processing the names in English computers, some of which are unable to adequately decipher Chinese characters.
Given names begin at birth with what is known as a “milk name”. This is created by parents before the permanent name is given. The family has a month to register the child, though this name can continued to be used until the child is older. A specific example of a milk name consists of doubling a character or adding another word to the given name.
The Chinese are known for their sometimes inexplicable names. Basically, any character can be used in the creation of a name, and unlike their western counterparts, naming a child after a relative or ancestor is considered offensive. Thus, most Chinese are named uniquely, and often the name reflects the society in which they are raised.
In the countryside, uneducated Chinese will name their children after simple things such as objects or animals, while the urban individual will often choose a more descriptive name suggesting their personality. As well as this, suburban Chinese adopt a school name which is used in their institution. Classmates prefer the usage of the true full name, however, as it is more respectable than a school name could possibly be.
The nickname of a Chinese person is an accumulation of their most obvious traits. This can include physicalities as well as the way a person thinks or acts. This name is not supposed to be used during formal conversations, and should only be used by an acquaintance of the bearer during non-formal occasions. By doing so, there is less a chance of potential humiliation for negative traits associated with the name.
