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How to choose the right Chinese name
Just like many Chinese people give themselves a foreign name in order to better adapt to and integrate into foreign cultures, friends who learn Chinese are also keen to give themselves a Chinese name, but many foreign friends say that choosing a suitable and pleasant Chinese name is an important task. Technical work is not an easy task, so today I will bring you four small methods to help you find a Chinese name that suits you faster.
Just like many Chinese give themselves a foreign name in order to better adapt to and integrate into foreign culture, people who study Chinese are also keen to give themselves Chinese names, but many foreigners say that choosing the right and nice Chinese name is a technical j ob , not an easy task, so today I will bring you four tips to help you find the Chinese name that suits you faster.
- literal translation
- Transliteration Method
This is the easiest way to choose a Chinese name, and it is also the way most foreign friends will choose. It doesn't take too much time to think, but also can keep the pronunciation of your original name, such as Mike, Jenny, Lily, etc. This method is also used in official news reports in China , if the names of foreign dignitaries are involved, they will be described using literal translation.
This is the easiest way to choose Chinese name, and it is the method that most foreigners will choose. You don't have to spend too much time thinking about it, but you can maintain the pronunciation of your original names, such as Mike( mài kè)Mike, Jian Ni( jiǎn nī)Jenny, Lili( lì lì)Lily, etc., this method is also used in China's official news reports, and if the names of foreign dignitaries are involved, they will use literal translations .
- Free translation
- Paraphrasing
This method selects relevant Chinese words and characters according to the meaning of the original name, and then interprets them, thus forming a brand new Chinese name. For example, Jade can be translated into Baoyu (bǎo yù) by free translation, and Andrea represents beauty and elegance, and we can translate it into Liya (lì yǎ).
This method selects relevant Chinese words and characters based on the meaning of the original name, and then interprets them, resulting in a completely new Chinese name. For example, Jade can be translated into 宝玉( bǎo yù), Andrea represents beauty and elegance, and we can translate it as 丽雅( lì yǎ).
- citing the names of famous people in history
- Quote the names of historical celebrities
This method is preferred by many senior Chinese learners, because after getting in touch with a deeper level of Chinese, such as ancient poems, ancient prose, etc., they will be deeply attracted by the author's literary talent, so they will directly choose the names of these ancient people as their own Chinese name. For example, Tang Bohu, a famous American singer in China, and Li Bai, a Canadian, adopted this method.
This method is what many senior Chinese learners like to adopt, because after contact with deeper Chinese, such as ancient poems, ancient texts, etc., they will be deeply attracted by the author's literary brilliance, so they will directly choose the names of these ancients as their Chinese names. For example, Tang Bohu, a well-known American female singer in China, and Li Bai, a Canadian national, adopted this method.
- name with good wishes
- Choose a name with good wishes
It is not ruled out that the three methods mentioned above are not suitable for some foreign friends. If these three methods are followed, the final Chinese name will not conform to the actual Chinese culture and Chinese language environment, so we can adopt Name yourself the way you put your best wishes in your name. For example, some people want to have an extraordinary temperament, fresh and refined, and they can be called Wanqing (wǎn qīnɡ), while others want their name to look poetic, and they can be called Yanqing (yán qīnɡ).
It is not excluded that the three methods mentioned above are not suitable for some foreigners, if you follow these three methods, the final Chinese name will not conform to the actual culture and Chinese language environment of China, so we can take the way of putting Our good wishes in the name to name ourselves. For example, some people hope that their temperament is extraordinary and vulgar, and they can be called Wanqing( wǎn qīnɡ), and some people hope that their name looks poetic and can be called 言Qing (yán qīnɡ).
In addition to the methods mentioned above, some foreign friends also choose the names of characters in some Chinese books as their Chinese names. This is also a good way, but it is worth noting that try to choose positive characters to avoid trouble A little misunderstanding. In addition, when foreigners choose a Chinese name, they don't need to have both the first and last name. Generally, just choose one name.
In addition to the methods mentioned above, some foreigners will choose the names of characters in some Chinese books as their Chinese names, which is also a good way, but it is worth noting that try to choose positive characters to avoid small misunderstandings. , foreigners do not need to have both a surname and a first name, and generally choose a first name is enough.
After reading today's sharing, have you decided on your Chinese name? Welcome everyone to leave a message to tell us, we will see you next time!
After reading today's sharing, have you figured out your Chinese name? Welcome to leave a message to tell us, we will see you next time!
(The picture shows American singer Tang Bohu)