How to spell Chinese double names. Chinese names. Chinese names are beautiful. Chinese names for men. Nickname in China

The full naming of the Chinese always includes the surname (姓 - xìng) and given name (名字 - míngzì). And it is important to remember - the last name is always indicated before the first name.

Chinese surnames

Usually they consist of one character (hieroglyph). For example, the most famous are 李 - Lǐ (literally meaning "plum"), 王 - Wáng (literally "prince", "ruler"). But sometimes there are surnames made of two hieroglyphs. For example, 司马 - Sīmǎ (literally, "voivode" - "to rule" + "horse"), 欧阳 - Ouyáng.

Chinese names

They differ from European ones in that they are rarely repeated. In China there is no list of names at all. Parents themselves come up with names for their children. The choice of name can be influenced by certain traditions, family signs, and superstitions.

And yet, due to the large number of bearers of first and last names, a certain shortage of surnames arises. In addition, fewer and fewer last names are used. So, if earlier there were about 12,000 surnames, now there are about 3,000. About 350 million people get by with just five surnames: Li, Wang, Zhang, Liu and Chen. At the same time, many people with the same surnames also same names. For example, in 1996, there were more than 2,300 people in Tianjin whose name was Zhangli, and who spelled this name the same way. And further more people, who wrote this name in different ways. This represents a serious inconvenience, since they can even arrest an innocent person, or close someone else’s account, or even perform an operation on someone who did not need it!

Some Chinese names can tell you whether they are masculine or feminine. But often you can’t guess from the name itself whether it belongs to a man or a woman.

Chinese names also consist of one or two. In transcription, it is customary to write the surname and first name separately. For example, Sīmǎ Qiān - Sima Qian.

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Peculiarity Chinese culture lies in its distinctness from European identity. The country developed for several millennia in conditions of isolation from outside world. This contributed to the fact that simple concepts, which seem insignificant to a Westerner, the Chinese have their own opinion.

Chinese female names carry meaning, and according to legends they can influence a person’s life. It is also worth mentioning that not only the name itself plays a special role in the Celestial Empire, but also the process of its change.

The influence of tradition on the choice of name

The difference between Chinese culture and Russian or any European culture is the difference in attitude towards a person’s surname and given name. In China, the surname has always played a big role; when meeting people, they call it first. Even an address to a person with whom the relationship does not allow frivolity should contain the last name.

But when choosing names, there are almost no restrictions. The main criterion that modern parents pay attention to is sonority. The child is given names consisting of one or more hieroglyphs, which may have the meaning of denoting a concept, object, feeling or color.

Meaning of names

The meaning of the name has been a very serious life guide throughout the history of the development of Chinese civilization. It could mean that a person belongs to any caste or clan. Parents tried to name the child the way they would like his life to develop. Since China is a country with strong religious influences, parents often chose sacred words or entire sentences as names.

In order to somehow limit the not always healthy imagination, the government had to create a special list that prohibited the use of certain symbols in the compilation. It includes hieroglyphs related to the following concepts:

• Death.
• Waste products.
• Hint of sexual overtones.

Today no one calls a person this way anymore, realizing that this can greatly complicate his life. Children can be given so-called “milk”, which serve as affectionate addresses from family to the baby. Or, over time, a person acquires qualities because of which he will be treated accordingly.

Female names list

Girls in China are mostly named after beautiful concepts that don't need any further explanation. The basis is:

• Names of precious minerals.
• Flowers.
• Things and events surrounding a person, such as dawn or the moon.
• Human qualities.

• Ai – love.
• Liling is a jade bell.
• Venkean is a pure girl.
• May - Plum.
• Ehuang is a beautiful August.
• Shan - so much grace.
• Zhaohui is simple wisdom.
• Fenkfan – fragrant.
• Kiaolian is someone who has been through a lot.
• Yanling - swallow forest.

The number of suitable options exceeds several thousand. Because a slight change in one syllable can completely change the meaning of a word.

Male Chinese names

For boys, since ancient times, meanings have been chosen that symbolize:

• Provision of life's goods.
• Physical qualities.
• Character qualities.
• Noble goals and professions.
• Landscape elements.
• Parting words.

Possible options:

• Bingwen – bright.
• Bay - light.
• Xiu – thinking about the environment.
• Yusheng – active.
• Liwei is the owner of greatness.
• Yun is brave.
• Demin is a merciful soul.
• Jaemin - Coup.
• Lao – Mature.
• Xu – responsible.

*If desired, you can use male characters in female names. It became popular in the context of growing feminism.

Chinese surnames

Modern system Allows a child to inherit the surname of either parent. This system is similar to the one used in Russia. Mostly the child takes the father's surname, but sometimes the mother's.

10 most common Chinese surnames:

1. Wang.
2. Zheng.
3. Zhao.
4. Zhou.
5. Xun.

It is difficult to imagine that there are more than 400 million people in the Celestial Empire alone who have the first two surnames.

How many surnames are there in China?

Because of difficult situation associated with the small variety of surnames, State Register, providing a list of possible options, has been expanded. Previously, it included only one hundred characters that could be written, but now this number has been increased several times. However, this reform will not be able to solve the current situation, when approximately one tenth of the Chinese population has the surname “Li”.

Popular Chinese names

The spirit of the times has always been a decisive factor determining all aspects of fashion. According to the census, certain sets of characters are popular, such as:

Men's

• Mingli is dazzlingly light.
• Wenyan is gentle with others.
• Lay - thunder.
• Minsch is sensitive and wise.
• Janji is attractive.
• Xanling is not empty beauty.
• Zen is exciting.
• Xiobo is a short warrior.
• Zangzhon is tall and soft.
• Dzengshen – someone who wants to achieve more.

Women's

• Xiozhi is a small rainbow.
• Xiokin - light blue.
• Zhu - a lot.
• Hua – happiness.
• Xioli – young jasmine.
• Rulin - latent jade.
• Xiolian is a young lotus.
• Xiatong - morning bell.
• Xiaphan - dawn.
• Maoning is a great victory.

Chinese rare names

There are several thousand Chinese names; their large number does not allow us to rank the rarest ones. There are even those that are present in one copy. This may be a specific set of characters, such as "Waosinjonghareto". If you literally translate it, you get “Born in the morning in a village near the yellow river.” And there are hundreds of such options.

The ones that attract more attention are those that, in their writing, may seem common to residents of China but may be unique to Russians. The heroes of many jokes and funny stories The following combinations became:

• Sun Wyn.
• Chew Yourself.
• Get up Sun.

Chinese names in English

A big problem when learning the ancient Chinese language is the lack of letters and some combinations of sounds. Therefore, it is much more difficult for the Chinese to pronounce people’s names that are unfamiliar to them. But this matter is much easier for them. The wide variety of phonetic tools that can be used to transcribe Chinese names allows you to pronounce them almost like a native speaker.

Transcription:

• Hua - Hua.
• Lei - Lei.
• Xun - Sun.
• Xanling - Ksanling.
• Demin - Demin.
• Ksiozhi - Ksiozhi.
• Maoning - Maoning.
• Zen - Dzen.
• Xiobo - Ksiobo.
• Dzengshen - Dzengshen.

It's actually quite simple. It is enough to know the English alphabet.

Russian female names

The Chinese writing system is somewhat limited in the variety of sounds. There is no alphabet in the Celestial Empire; it is replaced by a syllabic system for composing words. This causes problems for the Chinese because they are not used to pronouncing certain sounds found in other languages. Therefore, the Chinese pronounce and write some foreign names in such a way that even the owner cannot always immediately recognize his name.

• Alexandra - Ali shan de la.
• Alice - Ay li sy.
• Anastasia - An na sy ta si ya.
• Nastya - Na sy jia.
• Valentina - Wa lun ti na.
• Veronica - Wei lo ni ka.
• Galina - Jia Li Na.
• Evgenia - E fu gen ni ya.
• Elizabeth - Ye Li Zai Wei Ta.
• Christina - Ke Li Si Ji Na.

The first time you hear such a name, you will simply think that the Chinese are simply communicating with each other.

Do the Chinese have middle names?

The Chinese do not have a middle name, but they do have “Hao”. This is a nickname that a person takes for himself to highlight his individuality. The tradition of taking hao dates back to ancient times. This is how monarchs tried to stand out at court. Hao often passed from father to son.

Chinese second name

After reaching a certain age, 20 years for men and 15-17 years for women, the Chinese acquire the nickname "Zi". It is used to address neighbors, close friends and relatives. This can be called a family nickname, which is not mentioned in documents.

Unique Features

Almost all Chinese surnames consist of only one syllable. They originate from the time of the birth of the tradition of inheritance. Rulers gave rise to surnames related to power, and artisans took hieroglyphs from the name of their type of activity.
Women do not change their surnames after marriage. However, they can modify it by adding the hieroglyph for husband.

Combination of first and last name

The sound of Chinese surnames and given names is very important. Carefully selected syllables should be combined into a harmonious sentence, which parents think about for a long time. Even a wedding is not a reason to change your last name.

Names that define character

Chinese characters that define character have become popular. The Chinese believe that a person’s fate is determined by their name, which is why the following hieroglyphs have become popular:

• G - Lucky.
• Hu - Lioness.
• Xiong - Talent.
• Shu – justice.

You can list them until the evening, because any adjective in Chinese could become a name.

Names associated with beauty

The main feature of female names is that they should make the girl more beautiful and interesting. That's why the following have been popular for centuries:

• Ganghui - Irresistible.
• Lilzhan - Beauty.
• Meixiu – grace.
• Meiron is a success.
• Lihu - August.

Gems and female names

Also popular are Chinese characters denoting valuable minerals and metals, such as:

• Jin is gold.
• Ubi is an emerald.
• Mingjo – pearl.

They are usually a complement for creating names. A good example is the name "Lilin", which translates to beautiful jade.

Change of names

Upon reaching a certain age, in China it is customary to give different names- nicknames that are used when addressing loved ones. These include:

• Min. Basics.
• Sao-min. The baby's childhood nickname.
• Sue-min. School nickname.
• Gong-min. Student.
• Hao. Possible nickname.

However, only the Ming was noted in official Chinese documents.

beautiful chinese baby names

Sao-ming was used for affectionate treatment to little boys and girls. It was used only by parents and people close to the family. Common Chinese names:

• Hun - rainbow.
• Lee is a dragon.
• Chonglin - forest in spring.
• Dun - military protection.

Conclusion

It’s hard to even imagine the number of Chinese names. Unlike the limited number of surnames, parents can name their baby any combination of words. Because of this, people in China always say their last name first when meeting people.

Proper names in Chinese.

1. National traditions of anthroponymy.

The modern system of Chinese personal names, anthroponyms, has its roots in ancient national culture.

About what is named in Ancient China was given great importance evidenced by the surviving custom of using several names for one person:

- baby name (given by parents);

- new name(the name is given during the school period);

- adult, legal name(a person takes a name for himself upon reaching adulthood). Adult name could be changed by its carrier during life.

- posthumous name(the name is imprinted on wooden ancestral tablets displayed on home altars or in Chinese temples. The name sums it up life path and contains an assessment of a person’s actions by his relatives or contemporaries).

2. Etymological significance of the name.

One of the features of naming in China is related to the etymology of the name. The name reflected wishes for longevity, wealth, a successful career, family happiness, and the affirmation of moral values.

Allegories could be the names of animals, plants, natural phenomena, signs of the traditional calendar cycle.

The etymological significance of the name reflects the ethnic, social culture China, being at the same time a means of artistic expression.

In the meanings of ancient and modern names, traces of disappeared religious and national customs, rituals, ethnic ideas, everyday details.

Personal anthroponyms, perceived aurally as a single whole, consist of a surname, most often formed from:

Individual ancestor's name,

From the name of the craft, occupation, position,

From his place of residence.

Example traditional name:

artist Qi Baishi.

Child name - Erzhi (longevity fungus),

School name, given by the teacher- Huang (half-disc-shaped jade decoration),

Another name, also given by the teacher, is Baishi (White Stone - that was the name of the postal station located nearby).

The artist chose the name “Baishi” (White Stone) as an adult name. He carved it on seals that replaced signatures on the artist’s paintings.

3. Use of identical hieroglyphic characters.

One of the customs that has survived in China to this day is to give the names of brothers and sisters of the same generation the same hieroglyphic sign or graphic element, which acts as a defining sign of kinship (the custom of "paihan").

Name example:

the names of several brothers with the surname Liu:

Chunguang (spring light)

Chunshu ( spring tree),

Chunlin (spring forest)

Chunxi (spring joy).

4. Hao (pseudonym).

Hao (Chinese tr.: 號 ; ex. whale.: 号 ; pinyin: hào).

Most frequency structure:

Three hieroglyphs;

Four hieroglyphs.

One of the reasons for the appearance of "hao" is that many people have the same middle names.

There was no connection between "Hao" and the name.

Nickname selection:

Embodies a hint;

Contains a rare hieroglyph,

Names of writers and other representatives creative professions characteristic:

Sophistication of images;

Nicknames.

The Chinese writer Lu Xun had approximately 100 pen names in his set.

In some cases, pseudonyms were contained in a succinct figurative form:

Proper names the writer's native place;

Name of place of stay given time;

The name of the writer's studio, office, "abode", expressed in poetic form;

Example alias:

poet Su Shi - Dongpo Jiushi ("Dongpo Residence" - On the eastern slope) - the residence he built while in exile. Authors often used their pseudonyms in the titles of collections of their works.

Pseudonyms were in most cases used on personal seals imprinted on Chinese books and paintings. Personal seals with pseudonyms carved on them replaced the signature of the author, being at the same time an integral part artistic composition paintings or artistic detail of book design.

One of the purposes of using a creative pseudonym was to compose works of the so-called “low genres” (novels, dramas, etc.), which was previously considered an activity unworthy of a “pundit.”

5. Ambiguity Chinese characters.

The ambiguity of Chinese characters against the backdrop of minimal context provides a wide range of interpretation of the meaning of the name.

Reflection ancient tradition is the obsolete lexical meaning of the hieroglyph.

6. Names of Chinese emperors.

The personal names of the deified emperors were subject to taboo during their reign or the reign of the entire dynasty.

Their use orally or in writing was punishable by law, including the death penalty.

Instead of the emperor's name, the motto of his reign was usually used, and after death, the posthumous name.

The motto of the reign could change during the life of the emperor.

The custom of tabooing the personal names of emperors created an anthroponymic feature:

If in the title or text of the book there were hieroglyphs that coincided with the hieroglyph with which the emperor’s personal name was written, then they were replaced with other characters that were similar in meaning, or the outline of these hieroglyphs was deliberately distorted (for example, the hieroglyphic character was written without the last line).

For example, a treatise on the game of weiqi (raid checkers) called "Xuan xuan qingjing" ("Secret treatise on the game of weiqi") during the reign of Emperor Kangxi was published under the title "Yuan yuan qijing" ("Original treatise on the game of weiqi" ), since the first two hieroglyphs of the name (“Xuan xuan”) coincided with the hieroglyph that was part of the personal name of the Kangxi Emperor - Xuanye, and therefore were subject to taboo.

7. Transcription of personal Chinese names.

Chinese personal names are transmitted by means:

Russian transcription,

The Chinese phonetic alphabet (Pinyin), created on a Latin basis.

In Russian, a space is usually placed between the Chinese surname and given name:

Last name First name. The name is written together.

In old sources, Chinese names were written with a hyphen (Feng Yu-hsiang), but later a continuous spelling became accepted. (correct - Feng Yuxiang).

Currently, a continuous spelling of Chinese two-syllable names is accepted when transmitting them using Russian or Latin transcription.

Examples of transcription of two-syllable names:

Guo Moruo instead of Guo Mo-ruo;

Deng Xiaoping instead of Deng Xiao-ping.

8. Surname in Chinese linguistic mentality.

In a Chinese full name, the surname takes first place, followed by the personal name.

The Chinese name formation system is the basis of all traditional ways creating a name in East Asia. Most of East Asian countries follow the Chinese naming tradition.

The surname in the linguistic mentality of the Chinese people occupies a stable first place not only in the official use of the name, but also on the title page of the book and in everyday life.

The surname, as a rule, is written in one single-syllable hieroglyph when written in Russian or Latin transcription.

Previously, to specify the surname, the name of the county - the author’s homeland - was put on books. Two-syllable surnames, written in two hieroglyphic characters and transcribed in two words, are rare. For example, the historian Sima Qian bore the two-syllable surname Sima.

Number of Chinese surnames: more than 700 different surnames.

Number of most frequent surnames: There are approximately 20 surnames used by the majority of the Chinese population.

The variety of names in Chinese is provided by the range of personal names rather than surnames. Most Chinese surnames are written with one character, a smaller part - with two.

The most common Chinese surnames are:

Li (Chinese trad. 李 , pinyin: Lǐ),

Wang (Chinese trad. 王 , pinyin: Wáng),

Zhang (Chinese trad. 張 , ex. 张 , pinyin: Zhāng)

Most common Chinese surname in the world: Zhang.

According to statistics collected in China in the early 2000s, the number of people with the surname Zhang numbered more than 100 million.

Common Chinese surnames (statistics from the late 1990s):

Approximately 40% of the population: Zhang, Wang, Li, Zhao, Chen, Yang, Wu, Liu, Huang and Zhou.

About 10% of the population: Xu, Zhu, Lin, Sun, Ma, Gao, Hu, Zheng, Guo and Xiao.

Less than 10% of the population: Xie, He, Xu, Shen, Luo, Han, Deng, Liang and Ye.

Less than 30% of the population : Mao, Jiang, Bai, Wen, Guan, Liao, Miao, Chi.

Approximately 70% of Chinese residents have one of the listed surnames.

8.1. History of the concept of "Last name" in China.

The concept of a surname in China took its form in the era of the Three Emperors and Five Kings - a period when the history of the family was calculated exclusively along the maternal line. Before the three dynasties of Xia, Shang and Zhou (2140-256 BC), people in China already had surnames (Xing) and "Clan Name" (Shi). If surnames came from the name of the native village or family, then the “Clan Name” was formed from the name of the territory or title received as a gift from the emperor, sometimes even posthumously.

The presence of the "Clan Name" spoke of a certain social status its owner.

The tradition continued for 800 years until 627 AD, when a government official, Gao Silian, carried out some kind of census and calculated that the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom made do with only 593 surnames. After the population census, Gao Silian published the book "Annals of Surnames", which became the most important bureaucratic tool for selecting qualified personnel for government positions and for drawing up marriage contracts.

The book “Surnames of Hundred Families,” created in 960, was very popular in Ancient China. The book contained records of 438 surnames, of which 408 were one-word surnames; 30 names - out of two.

9. Name in Chinese linguistic mentality.

The most common name structure for Chinese residents is:

One syllable;

Two syllables.

The first name is written after the last name.

In modern China, there is a rule according to which the name of a Chinese resident must have a Mandarin translation.

In previous years, Chinese residents had several names throughout their lives:

- in childhood- “milk” or children’s name (Xiao-ming, Chinese example. 小名 , pinyin: xiǎo míng),

- in adulthood- official name (min, Chinese. 名 , pinyin: míng), those serving among relatives bore a middle name (tzu, Chinese ex. 字 , pinyin: zì), some also took a pseudonym (hao, Chinese ex. 号 , pinyin: hào).

By the mid-1980s, it became common for adults to have only one formal name, "min." "Dairy" names in childhood were still common.

Name example: Li Zhenfan (Bruce Lee) had the childhood name Li Xiaolong (Li Little Dragon), the name by which he was known during his brief adult years.

The range of Chinese names is theoretically unlimited due to the lack of a strictly defined list of names. Any word or phrase can be selected as individual name. The only thing that limits the creative range in creating a name is family traditions, which are given great importance when creating a name.

Name requirements:

Connection with family traditions;

Euphony;

Examples of names:

Mao Dun. (Dun - “warrior’s shield”). Profession: Writer.

Shen Hong. (Hun - "rainbow"). Profession: Doctor.

The etymology of most individual names is associated with a wish for good or with a traditional artistic image.

9.1. Women's names.

Women's personal names in the Chinese tradition do not contain formal signs of difference from men's names. To distinguish the gender of the owners of names, after the female name a designation is usually used indicating that they belong to the female gender.

Lexical features of the difference between a female name and a male name:

In the personal names of men, words are traditionally used that indicate qualities: courage, valor, fidelity to duty;

Women's personal names traditionally express the names of flowers, precious stones, butterflies, epithets of female virtues, and exquisite poetic images.

IN modern names the figurative boundary of a clear distinction between the sexes has been erased.

Name example:

Li Qingzhao - “pure light” (profession: poetess);

Ma Zhenghong - (Zhenghong) "red policy". A feminine name, indistinguishable from a masculine one.

In ancient China, after marriage, women added their surname to their husband's surname.

In modern China, after marriage, women, in most cases, keep their maiden names and do not take their husband’s surname (an almost universal practice in China). Children, in most cases, inherit their father's surname.

9.2. Second name.

Second name ( 字 , zì) - a name given upon reaching adulthood ( 字 , zì) and used throughout life. Issued after 20 years as a symbol of growing up and respect.

Initially, the middle name was used after male names. The young man could receive a middle name from his parents, from his first teacher on the first day of attending school, or he could choose a middle name for himself.

The tradition of using middle names gradually began to disappear since the Movement

There are two common forms of the middle name: Zi 字 (zì) and Hao 號 (hao).

- Tzu, sometimes also biaozi ( 表字 )

a name traditionally given to Chinese males at the age of 20, symbolizing their coming of age. Sometimes a woman was given a middle name after marriage.

According to the Book of Rituals ( 禮記 ), after a man reached maturity, it was disrespectful for other people of the same age to address him by his first name 名 "min".

Thus, the name given at birth was used only by the person himself or his older relatives. The middle name "Zi" was used by adult peers to address each other when communicating or writing.

Tzu is a predominantly two-syllable name in structure, consisting of two hieroglyphs. The basis of a name in the Zi tradition is “ming” or the name given at birth.

Yan Zhitui ( 顏之推 ), who lived during the Northern Qi Dynasty, believed that if the purpose of the name given at birth was to distinguish one person from another, then the purpose of the “second name” was to indicate the moral worth of the person endowed with this name.

- Hao(Chinese tr.: 號 ; ex. whale.: 号 ; pinyin: hào).

An alternative middle name, usually used as a nickname.

Residents of China chose "hao" for themselves and could have more than one "creative name".

"Hao" was creative name, the individual's sense of himself.

Use of a homophonic hieroglyph.

One of the ways to form a second name. Polite treatment to a man - like the first hieroglyph of the two-syllable zì. For example, Gongsun Qiao's middle name was Zichang ( 子產 ), and the poet Du Fu - Zǐméi ( 子美 ).

Using the first hieroglyph.

It is a common practice to create a second name based on the first hieroglyph, indicating the order of birth of the child in his family.

According to historical evidence, Confucius's real name was Kǒng Qiū, 孔丘 ), and the middle name is Zhòngní 仲尼 ), where the first hieroglyph 仲 (zhòng) shows that he was the middle (second) son in his family.

Common hieroglyphs for birth order:

Bo (bó 伯 ) - For first child,

Zhong 仲 ) - for the second,

Shu (shū) 叔 ) - for the third,

Ji (jì 季 ) - usually for all the younger ones, if there are more than three sons in the family.

The tradition of using a middle name began around the time of the Shang Dynasty. By the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty, this tradition gained popularity.

At that time, women were also given a middle name, consisting in most cases of a hieroglyph showing the order of birth among the sisters and her surname:

Meng Jiang 孟姜 ) was eldest daughter in the Jiang clan.

Until the 20th century, Koreans, Japanese and Vietnamese were also addressed by their middle names.

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In ancient times, the Chinese knew two types of surnames: family names (in Chinese: 姓 – xìng) and clan names (氏 – shì).

Chinese surnames are patrilineal, i.e. are passed on from father to children. Chinese women after marriage they usually keep their maiden name. Sometimes the husband's surname is written before one's own surname: Huang Wang Jieqing.

Historically, only Chinese men possessed xìng (surname), in addition to shì (clan name); women only had a clan name and took a xìng husband after marriage.

Before the Warring States Period (5th century BC), only the royal family and aristocratic elite could have surnames. Historically there was also a distinction between xing and shi. Xing were surnames borne directly by members of the royal family.

Before the Qin Dynasty (3rd century BC), China was largely feudal society. As fiefs were divided and subdivided among heirs, additional surnames known as shi were created to distinguish seniority of descent. Thus, a noble could have both shi and xing. After the states of China were unified by Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC, surnames gradually passed down to the lower classes and the distinction between xing and shi became blurred.

Shi surnames, many of which survive to this day, originated in one of the following ways:

1. From xing. They were usually kept by members of the royal family. Of approximately six common xing only Jiang(姜) and Yao(姚) have survived as common surnames.

2. By imperial decree. During the imperial period, it was common practice for subjects to be given the surname of the emperor.

3. From the names of states. Many ordinary people took the name of their state to show their belonging to it or their national and ethnic identity. Examples include Dream (宋), Wu (吴), Chen(陳). It is not surprising that, thanks to the mass of the peasantry, they are one of the most common Chinese surnames.

4. From the name of the fief or place of origin. Example - Di, Marquess of Ouyanting, whose descendants took the surname Ouyang(歐陽). There are approximately two hundred examples of surnames of this type, often two-syllable surnames, but few survive today.

5. On behalf of the ancestor.

6. In ancient times, syllables Meng (孟), zhong (仲), shu(叔) and zhi(季) were used to denote first, second, third and fourth sons in a family. Sometimes these syllables became surnames. Of them Meng is the most famous.

7. From the name of the profession. For example, Tao(陶) – “potter” or Wu(巫) – “shaman”.

8. From the name ethnic group. Such surnames were sometimes taken by non-Han peoples of China.

Surnames in China are unevenly distributed. In northern China the most common is Wang(王), worn by 9.9% of the population. Then Lee (李), Zhang(张/張) and Liu(刘/劉). In the south the most common surname Chen(陈/陳), covering 10.6% of the population. Then Lee (李), Zhang(张/張) and Liu(刘/劉). On South Chen(陈/陳) is the most common, being shared by 10.6% of the population. Then Lee (李), Juan (黄), Lin(林) and Zhang(张/張). In the main cities on the Yangtze River, the most common surname is Lee(李) with 7.7% speakers. Followed by Wang (王), Zhang (张 / 張), Chen(陈/陳) and Liu (刘 / 劉).

A 1987 study found that there were more than 450 surnames widely used in Beijing, but there were fewer than 300 surnames in Fujian. Despite the presence of thousands of surnames in China, 85% of the population bears one of the hundred surnames, which make up 5% of the family stock.

A 1990 study found that 96% of people in a sample of 174,900 had 200 surnames, 4% had 500 other surnames.

The three most common surnames in mainland China are: Li, Wang, Zhang. They are worn by 7.9%, 7.4% and 7.1% of people respectively. This is about 300 million. Therefore, these three surnames are the most common in the world. In Chinese there is an expression "three Zhangs, four Lis" which means "any".

Most common surnames in China have one syllable. However, about 20 surnames have two syllables, e.g. Sima (司馬), Ouyang(歐陽). There are also surnames with three or more syllables. By their origin they are not Han, but, for example, Manchu. Example: last name Aisin Gyoro(愛新覺羅) of the Manchu imperial family.

In China, all namesakes are considered relatives. Until 1911, marriages between namesakes were prohibited, regardless of the existence of real family relations between them.

© Nazarov Alois

Chinese names. Chinese surnames. The meaning of Chinese names and surnames. The most common first and last names in China. Chinese have European names. A beautiful Chinese baby name or nickname.

01/08/2018 / 05:42 | Varvara Pokrovskaya

The Chinese are the most numerous nation on earth, possessing ancient culture. However, their names - Li Qian, Mao Dun, Huang Bojing - sound exotic to a Russian person. It is also interesting that in China it is customary to change one’s name during one’s life, due to various important events or life stages. Let's figure out what's special about Chinese names and how they are translated into Russian.

Chinese surnames, what's special about them

The Chinese began using surnames before our era. At first they were available only to members of the royal family and aristocracy. A little later and simple people They began to use a surname along with their given name, which passed from generation to generation.

In the beginning, surnames had two meanings: “sin” and “shi.” The first concept was used among close blood relatives. It was only for the highest Chinese nobility and the imperial family. The second concept, shi, was used ordinary Chinese to designate the entire family, and even later - for people with the same occupation.

In modern China, the list of surnames is very limited. It does not go beyond the “Baiqiaxing” table, which translated means “One Hundred Surnames” (although there are actually more than one hundred, but still not that many).

Chinese surnames usually have one syllable. In writing they look like one hieroglyph. Their origins are different. So, some came from the type of activity (for example, Tao is a potter), others - from the names of the states that formed the basis modern China(eg Yuan). But all foreigners were called Hu.

After marriage, a woman often does not take her husband’s last name, but leaves her maiden name, or takes double surname own + husband. In written form it looks like this: maiden name+husband’s surname+proper name.

For example, 李王梅丽. The first character, 李, is Li's maiden name, the second, 王, is her husband's surname, Wang, and the last characters are the proper name, which sounds like Meili (literally "beautiful plum") in Russian.

Children generally inherit their husband's surname, but not necessarily. They can also be recorded in the mother's surname.

The most common Chinese surnames

Interestingly, the first two surnames on the list (Li and Wang) are borne by more than 350 million Chinese.

Chinese names - Chinese names

The surname and first name in China are written together, and in exactly this order - first the surname, then the first name. This is all because the Chinese are very sensitive to their ancestors and their own roots. In old chronicles, the surname and first name were written down with a hyphen, but never separately.

Just a few decades ago, a child could be called a dissonant, even nasty, name, including for the Chinese. This was done in order to scare away evil spirits. They will think that the family does not like the baby and will not bother him. We're talking about names like:

• Tedan - iron egg;
• Goushen - leftover dog food;
• Goudan - the missing dog egg.

Parents called their children such scary names that the Chinese government had to issue a separate order, according to which the baby should not be given a name with the hieroglyph:

• death;
• dead body;
• excrement;
• debauchery (mistress, seduction, kept woman);
• a curse;
• anger.

Nowadays everything has changed. But in some places (mainly in villages) this tradition is preserved in the form of household nicknames or children's names.

The name of the citizens of the Celestial Empire rarely means an object, it is mainly an epithet. Popular Chinese names are most often two-syllable, i.e. consist of two hieroglyphs.

There are no grammatical, spelling or other differences between male and female Chinese names. There is a division by gender, but it is based on meaning.

For a boy, parents choose a name that symbolizes:

• wealth;
• physical superiority: strength, high growth, fast reaction;
• character traits: honest, smart, diligent, honoring ancestors;
• high goals: discoverer, scientist, patriot, receiving greatness;
• nature: one who worships the river, the top of the mountain, the wind, the sea;
• ancestors and cult objects: Yangtze River, rain (sea) of the elder brother, golden mirror.

Often the name reflects kind parental advice. It is known that when Yue Fei, who later became a general and national hero China, swans landed on the roof of his house. There was a whole flock of them. The boy's mother wished that her son would fly just as far and high. It was decided to name the newborn Fairy, which translated means “flight.”

• Parents call the girl beautiful euphonious name, meaning something beautiful:
• Precious stones: pearl, jasper, refined jade;
• Flowers: morning jasmine, rainbow orchid, small lotus;
• Weather conditions; a little dawn, an autumn moon, the morning color of a cloud;
• Intellectual abilities: intelligent, clear wisdom, indigo;
• Attractive appearance: beautiful and prosperous, charming, graceful;
• Natural objects: Beijing forest, swallow, spring Flower, cloud.

Popular male Chinese names

Beautiful Chinese names for girls

Change of names

In the Celestial Empire long years there was a tradition of changing one's name upon reaching a certain age.

At birth, the baby was given an official name (“ming”) and a child’s name (“xiao-ming”). When he went to school, the child's name was replaced by the student's name - “xueming”. After passing the exams, a person received another name - “guanming”, by which he was addressed at celebrations or important holidays. The representative of the nobility also has a “hao” nickname.

Most of the names are not currently used in China. Gone are the student “xueming” and the official “guanming”. Children's names and nicknames are still used.

Features of children's and school names in China

A child's (milk) name is used only by close relatives within the family circle. If parents wish, they give the newborn, in addition to official first name, one more thing. But this is optional. Dairy's name is very similar to our pet nickname.

Previously, immediately after the birth of a baby, the father or other relative went to the seer in order to find out the fate of the child. This was especially common in rural areas. If she predicted that the baby would be threatened by something in the future, such as fire, then she had to give a baby name associated with water. Conversely, if fate was destined to fear water, the child received a milky name associated with matches, fire or flame.

Sometimes parents named the child with a child's name, often found among monks. It served as a talisman for him.

Nowadays, a milk name, as a rule, emphasizes some individual traits, the child’s appearance, contains parental parting words, or is simply a beautiful poetic word.

The most beautiful Chinese baby names

• Hun - rainbow;
• Lee is a small dragon;
• Chunlin - spring forest;
• Chunguang - spring light;
• Dun is a warrior's shield.

When a child went to school, the teacher (less often parents) gave him his school name. It was used in all documents during its school life. The name most often reflected the intellectual or physical abilities (disadvantages) of the student. Now in the PRC the school name is not used.

Chinese second name

When a Chinese man reaches marriageable age (20 years for boys and 15-17 years for girls), he receives a middle name (“zi”), by which friends, relatives, and neighbors address him.

Changing your name is a whole ritual. The guy puts on a hat, stands in front of his father and he names him. Daughters put a hairpin in their hair, and then the procedure for changing their name is the same. Interestingly, a girl changes her name most often during an engagement.

Tzu includes two hieroglyphs, and is based on the name given at birth and complements it. For example, the second name of the great statesman Mao Zedong - Zhunzhi. Both names translate as “beneficial.”

Sometimes the middle name signifies the birth order of the child in the family. To do this, use hieroglyphs:

• Bo - first;
• Zhong is the second;
• Shu - third;
• Ji is for all other children.

Beautiful Chinese names (middle name)

• Bo Yan;
• Mende;
• Taibai;
• Pengju;
• Kunming;
• Zhongni;
• Zhongda;
• Zhunzhi;
• Xuande.

Nickname in China

Fine educated people, representatives of the nobility in China still had the nickname hao. They could choose it themselves. This name was used as a pseudonym, and consisted of three, four or more hieroglyphs. Most often they chose rare hieroglyphs or the name of the entire city (village, region) where the person was born. For example, the nickname of the poet Su Shi was Dongpo Jiushi - the name of the mansion in which he lived while in exile.

Hao did not reflect the first or second name in any way. This is something deeply personal. The nickname is very popular among scientists and writers.

Borrowing names from other languages

Modern parents in China, as indeed in any other country, often call their children beautiful, but unusual for cultural tradition country name. The basis for this is the shortened form of the foreign name. The most commonly borrowed names are:

• Eastern: Amber, Alibey, Mohammed;
• Celtic: Bryn, Dylan, Tara;
• French: Olivia, Bruce;
• Slavic: Nadin, Vera, Ivan;
• Indian: Believed, Opal, Uma;
• Italian: Donna, Mia, Bianca;
• Greek: Angel, George, Selena;
• German: Charles, Richard, William.

So, if you happen to meet Lee Gabriella or Go Uma, don't be especially surprised.