chinese names and forms of address
TRANSCRIPT
Joanne Chen2015
IVC Chinese instructor
Chinese Names and
Forms of Address
1. Surname or 姓 (xìng) - Chinese family names are patrilineal, passed from father to children.
2. Given name or 名 míng
Chinese names have two parts:
王 学 中SurnameMost Chinese surnames have one character (one syllable).Only a few surnames have two characters (two syllables).
Given nameGiven name usually has one or two characters.
Wáng Xué Zhōng
The Bǎi jiā xìng ( 百家姓 ) or "Hundred Family Surnames" refers to an ancient text documenting Chinese surnames.
Historically there are close to 12,000 surnames recorded, of which only about 3,100 are in current use.
Among which about 500 are the most common.
百家姓 bǎi jiā xìng
The given names usually reflect the parents’ hopes for their child.
Naming a Child
Siblings names often have similar or identical characters.
Parents often consult with a fortune teller in order to choose a lucky and prosperous name.
It is considered offensive to name a child after an older member of the family.
Naming a child after figures in mythology and classical novel is not appropriate.
For boys, honor, success, strength, bravery and brilliance are common themes.
Boy’s and Girl’s name
For girls, beautiful, cute, fragrant and delicate are common themes.
In China, married women usually retain their maiden name as their family, rather than adoption their husband’s name.
Married Woman
Some married women added their husband’s family nameIn front of their full name, but do notdrop their maiden name.
Marriage Certificate (China)
李 心 怡王Wáng Lǐ Xīn Yí
In General, Mr., Mrs., and Miss are regarded as the proper forms of address for initiating talk.
Addressing people
Mr. 先生 xiānshēng
Mrs. 太太 tài tai Miss 小姐 xiǎo jiě
Wáng xiān sheng王先生 Wáng tài tai王太太 Zhāng xiǎo jiě 张小姐
Wáng YéyeGrandpa Wáng
In social circles, individuals are addressed according to their age compared to the addresser. The titles are often words for family members, even tough the person is not related.
Addressing Younger and Older people
Wǒ = Me
MèimeiYounger sister
DìdiYounger brother
Jiāng Āyí Aunty Jiang Chen Shúshu
Uncle Chen
Lǐ NǎinaiGrandma Li
It s considered inappropriate or even offensive to use the given names of relatives who are senior to the speaker.
Children can be called by their given names or nicknames.
Within families
Mother side Father side
grandpa
grandma
Uncle
Aunt
grandpa
grandma
Uncle
Aunt
Top 10 population about 5.5 hundred million peopleTop 5 population about 4 hundred million people (HC =Han Chinese)1.Lǐ 李姓- 7.94 % of HC = 95,300,0002.Wáng 王姓- 7.41 % of HC = 88,900,0003.Zhāng 张姓- 7.07 % of HC = 84,800,0004.Liú 刘姓- 5.38 % of HC = 64,600,0005.Chén 陈姓- 4.53 % of HC = 54,400,0006.Yáng 杨姓- 3.08 % of HC = 37,000,0007.Zhào 赵姓- 2.29 % of HC = 27,500,0008.Huáng 黄姓- 2.23 % of HC = 26,800,0009.Zhōu 周姓- 2.12 % of HC = 25,400,00010.wú 吴姓- 2.05 % of HC = 24,600,000
Top 10 Surnames (2010 PRC census )
http://www.backchina.com/blog/239814/article-174720.html#ixzz3os86xQzH
In official situations, Chinese uses a “Name Chop”, which is a carved seal, or stamp, of one’s name that is used like a signature.
A name chop is required to legalized a contract, pick up registered mail, withdraw money from the bank and in most situations that required official signatures.
Name Chop 印章 yìnzhāng
Seal for Bank - Check
Seal for Checking Account Personal Seal
Professional titles are always preferred in professional situations, business communications, and governmental affairs.
老板 Lǎobǎn (owner of a business)主任 zhǔrèn (director)教授 jiàoshòu (professor)经理 jīnglǐ (manager)医师 yīshī (doctor)
Professional Titles
王老板 wáng lǎobǎn
李主任 lǐ zhǔrèn
马医师 mǎ yīshī
谢老师 xiè lǎoshī 许经理 xǔ jīnglǐ
Traditional female names sometimes reflected the male chauvinism of ancient China -- the family preferred male offspring over female.
Though it is less common these days.
Such names are like 招弟 zhāodì (Seeking a little brother)弟来 dìlái (Brother comes)希弟 xīdì ( Hoping a brother)婷婷 tíngtíng (Stop stop girl)
Female names
Traditionally, babies were named a hundred days after their birth. Modern naming laws of PRC grant the parents a month before requiring the baby to be registered. A Chinese may have a variety of names over his or her life.
Milk name 小名 / 乳名 Nickname 绰号Western name 英文名字School name 学名Courtesy name 字Pseudonym 号 / pen names 笔名
Alternative names
Tips on Addressing people
Address people with their title and family name, unless they ask you to use their given name
While “Last name + Mr., Mrs., Miss ” is a good formula to follow, many prefer to use their government or professional titlesA. Qǐngwèn , nín guìxìng ? (May I know your last name?)
B. Wǒ xìng lǐ. (My last name is li)
A. Lǐ xiānshēng ,nín hǎo. (Mr. Li, how are you?
Tips on Addressing people
Business guests will normally be introduced with full titles and company names, so try to do the same
When in doubt, ask business people how they would prefer to be addressed
Chinese people usually take a look at the details on the business card to determine how to properly address each other.
Tips on Business Cards Appearing without a business card is considered a bad
business practice Try to get dual-sided business cards, with English and Mandarin Even if you’re handed business cards in Mandarin, “study”
them for a few seconds to show respect Always hand over your cards individual-to-individual, never
keep them in a stack and ask people to take one Don’t write on someone’s business card in their presence, or
put business cards in the back pocket of your pants, wallet or face down on a table