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