Chinese female names and meanings - choosing a beautiful name for a girl. Secrets and meanings of female Chinese names The most popular female name in China

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

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

The Chinese are the largest nation on earth with an 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 by ordinary Chinese to designate the entire clan, 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 states that formed the basis of modern China (for example, 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 in writing 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 in Russian (literally "beautiful plum").

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 most often disyllabic, 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, recipient of 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 of China, was born, 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.”

  • The parents call the girl a beautiful euphonious name, meaning something beautiful:
  • Gems: 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

Ai - love Liling - beautiful jade bell
Venkian - purified Mei - plum
G - pure Ehuang - beauty of August
Jiao - beautiful Shan - grace
Jing - abundance Nuying - flower girl
Ju - chrysanthemum Row - tender
Zhaohui - clear wisdom Ting - graceful
Ki - beautiful jade Fenfang - fragrant
Kiaolian - experienced Hualing - heather
Qingzhao - understanding Shihong - the world is beautiful
Xiaoli - morning jasmine Yun - cloud
Xiaofan - dawn Yanling - forest of swallows
Xu - snow Huizhong - wise and loyal

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, baby name was replaced by the student's word - "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 desired, parents give the newborn, in addition to the official first name, one more name. 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.

Now a dairy name, as a rule, emphasizes some personality traits, the appearance of a child, contains parental parting words or simply this 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 China school name 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 abbreviated form 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.

If you are a native resident of China or are moving to live in this densely populated country, you should know according to what rule a child is named here, and how. If you just love this culture and want to choose original name child, then this article will make your task easier. In it you will find the most interesting and popular Chinese female names.

History of the origin of Chinese female names

As a rule, Chinese families, when choosing a name, are guided by the following order: after name goes surname. This is because the Chinese respect their genus more than their individual name. Chinese female names are more a merit of the imagination of the child’s parents. The surname consists of one syllable, while the given name consists of two.

Interesting. In China, names are always written in full and do not have initials.

List of beautiful names for girls

  • Ai is one of the few names starting with the first letter of the alphabet that means “love”;
  • Biyu – means “jasper”;
  • Wenling - marks a precious stone such as refined jade;
  • Ven – “processing”;
  • G – marks the girl as “pure”;
  • Gia – female name meaning “beautiful”;
  • Deiyu is another name that signifies the black jade gemstone;
  • Zhilan – “rainbow orchid”;
  • Iing – means “smart” or “eagle”;
  • Kiang – “rose”;
  • Kiu - marks the colorful season of the year - autumn;
  • Xiu – “grace”;
  • Xiaoqing – “small blue”;
  • Lin – again a precious stone – “beautiful jade”;
  • Lan – flower meaning – “orchid”;
  • Ling – the meaning of the name is “understanding” or “compassionate”;
  • Lijuan – “beautiful” and “graceful”;
  • Mei – after the fruit “plum”;
  • Meiling – translated as “beautiful”;
  • Niu - simply marks the gender of the child - “girl”;
  • Ning - signifies calmness;
  • Pages – “admired by the rainbow”;
  • Roe – “tender”;
  • Song - in honor of a coniferous tree, “pine”;
  • Ting – translated as “graceful”;
  • Fang – means “aroma”;
  • Hualing – carries the meaning of “heather”;
  • Changchang – translated as “prosperous”;
  • Shu - the girl is characterized as “fair”;
  • Yun – has a gentle, “airy” interpretation – “cloud”;
  • Yuming – translated as “jade brightness”;
  • Yanyu – name with interesting meaning– “swallowing jade”;
  • Yangling - created in honor of the “swallow” or “Beijing” forest.

Rare female names of Chinese origin

As a rule, in China, names are associated with the external qualities of a girl. The names of flowers, fruits and precious stones are also common.

Among the rare, perhaps long-forgotten Chinese names, the following can be mentioned:

  • Aimin – translated as “people’s love”;
  • Xiaoming - marks the “dawn”;
  • Changchun - translated as " Eternal youth"or "Chinese rose"
  • Yulan - personifies the magnolia flower;
  • Yuming - after the stone - “bright jade” or “jasper”.

Maybe you'll like one of these sweet-sounding rare names. But do not forget that it must be consonant with the surname and patronymic.

Modern and popular names and their meanings

Increasingly, the Chinese themselves are using more modern names for your children.

Popular female names in China nowadays are as follows:

  • Venkian is an enterprising girl who easily copes in the fields of commerce and industry. It has strong character, often does not spare either himself or others.
  • Jieyi - she is characterized by wisdom and intuition. In childhood new material picks things up on the fly, is talented and funny. Lives one day at a time, without thinking about the future.
  • Zenzen – the meaning of the name is “precious”. A girl with this name has no conflict; she is characterized by a soft and tactful character. She is advised to avoid quarrels and not worry about minor details in life.
  • Liling – “beautiful jade bell”, this is how the name is translated. Liling's character is changeable, there is internal and emotional restlessness. Therefore, it is better to avoid conflicts and not attach much importance to various little things.
  • Meihui is a hardworking and balanced person. Success awaits her in such areas. like science and technology.
  • Shuchun – translated as “fair purity”. Possesses potential intelligence and the ability to develop highly. Shuchun can confidently look for himself among the following professions: inventor, discoverer of new things and musician.
  • Yanmei is a diligent girl with her own “oddities.” Prone to analytical thinking, with good intuition. She is subject to such professions as composer or musician, poet, philosopher or thinker.

Ancient and forgotten names

In ancient times, it was customary to call female children by dissonant names in order to protect them from the influence of evil spirits. Therefore, they have a more complex form and are not always easy to pronounce.

These names are no longer used:

  • Goudan – translated as “lost dog egg”;
  • Goushen is a name with a very unpleasant meaning“leftover dog food”;
  • Tedan - “iron egg”.

Important! These names and a number of other meanings were banned in China, as they carried a negative meaning. Today it is customary to choose only positive names.

Choose a name for your child in accordance with what you want to wish for him in life - a character trait or way of thinking. After all, the name has a strong power over the fate, character and abilities of a person, and therefore affects his realization as a person, success and personal happiness.

A correctly chosen name has a strong positive impact on a person’s character, aura and destiny. Actively helps to develop, forms positive qualities of character and condition, strengthens health, removes various negative programs of the unconscious. But how to choose the perfect name?

Despite the fact that in culture there are poetic interpretations of what women's names mean, in reality the influence of the name on each girl is individual.

Sometimes parents try to choose a name before birth, preventing the child from developing. Attempts to use astrology are no longer applicable; astrology and numerology for choosing a name have squandered all serious knowledge about the influence of a name on fate over the centuries.

Christmastide calendars, holy people, without consulting a seeing, perspicacious specialist, do not provide any real assistance in assessing the influence of names on the fate of a child.

Popular lists, happy, beautiful, melodious female names are essentially generalizations, and completely turn a blind eye to the individuality, energy, and soul of the child.

Beautiful and modern Chinese names should primarily suit the child, and not relative external criteria of beauty and fashion. Who don't care about your child's life.

Various characteristics according to statistics - positive features name, negative traits name, choice of profession by name, influence of a name on business, influence of a name on health, psychology of a name can only be considered in the context of a deep analysis of the character, energy structure, task for life and gender of a particular child.

Name Compatibility Topic(and not the characters of people) is an absurdity that turns the interaction inside out different people internal mechanisms of influence of a name on the state of its bearer. And it cancels the entire psyche, unconscious, energy and behavior of people. Reduces the entire multidimensionality of human interaction to one false characteristic.

Meaning of the name does not give full impact, it is only a small part of the impact. For example, Ai (love) does not mean that the girl will be happy in family life, and bearers of other names are unhappy. The name can weaken her health, block her heart center and she will not be able to give and receive love. On the contrary, another girl will be helped to solve problems related to love or family, which will make life and achieving goals much easier. The third girl may not have any effect at all, whether there is a name or not. Etc. Moreover, all these children can be born on the same day. And have the same astrological, numerological and other characteristics. And the same name. But fates are different.

The most popular Chinese names for girls are also misleading. 95% of girls are called names that do not make their fate easier. You can only focus on the child’s innate character, spiritual vision and the wisdom of a specialist. And experience, experience and once again the experience of understanding what is happening.

The secret of a woman's name, as a program of the unconscious, a sound wave, vibration is revealed in a special bouquet primarily in a person, and not in the semantic meaning and characteristics of a name. And if this name destroys a child, then no matter how beautiful, melodious with the patronymic, astrologically accurate, blissful it is, it will still be harmful, destroy character, complicate life and burden fate.

Below is a list of Chinese names. Try to choose several that you think are most suitable for your child. Then, if you are interested in the effectiveness of the name’s influence on fate, .

List of female Chinese names in alphabetical order:

Ai - love

Baozhei - precious hairpin
Biyu - jasper, semi-precious stone

Veiki - preserving love
Ven - processing
Venkian - purified
Wenling - refined jade

Hong Kong - red (wedding color)

Dandan - cinnabar (red)
G - pure
Jiao - graceful, beautiful
Jing - abundance
Jingua - luxurious
Jieyi - housekeeping
Jieying - housekeeping
Gia is beautiful
Ju - chrysanthemum
Dongmei - winter plum
Deyu - black jade

Zhaohui - clear wisdom
Zhilan - rainbow orchid
Zhu - bamboo

Zongying - an example of a hero
Zenzen - precious

Ying - smart or eagle
Yingtey - flower terrace

Ki - beautiful jade
Kiang - rose
Kiao - experienced
Kiaolian - experienced
Kiaohui - experienced and wise
King - dark blue
Kingj - pure
Qingzhao - understanding
Kingling - understanding
Kiu - autumn
Kiyu - autumn moon
Xiaauen - morning cloud color
Xiaodan - a little dawn
Xiaojian - healthy
Xiaojing - morning abundance
Xiaozhi - small rainbow
Xiaoking - small blue
Xiaoli - morning jasmine
Xiaolian - small lotus
Xiaoling - morning call
Xiaotong - morning beauty
Xiaofan - dawn
Xiaohui - a little wisdom
Xiaosheng - small birth
Xierong - graceful composure
Xingjuan - grace
Xiu - grace
Xiuying - graceful flower
Xiulan - graceful orchid
Xifeng - Western Phoenix
Ksia - pink clouds
Xu - snow
Xueman - snowy grace
Kuifen - emerald

Lanying - indigo
Lan - orchid
Lanfen - orchid scent
Lee - vertical
Lijuan - beautiful, graceful
Likin - beautiful
Likiu - beautiful autumn
Liling - beautiful jade bell
Lin - beautiful jade
Ling - compassionate, understanding
Liu - current
Lifen is a beautiful scent
Lihua - beautiful and prosperous
Luli - wet jasmine

Meixiang - plum flavor
Meixiu - beautiful grace
Meili - beautiful
Meiling - plum jade
Meirong - beautiful composure
Meifen - plum scent
Meifeng - beautiful wind
Meihui - beautiful wisdom
Mei - plum
Mingzhu - bright pearl
Mingxia - clouds at dawn
Mingyu - bright jade

Ning - calmness
Ningong - calmness
Niu is a girl
Nuying - girl's flower
Nuo - graceful

Paging - delighted abundance
Pages - delighted with the rainbow

Renxiang - a welcoming scent
Rong - military
Row - tender
Ruiling - auspicious jade
Ruolan - like an orchid
Ruomei - like a plum

Song - pine
Suiin - simple
Xiangjiang - fragrant

Ting - graceful

Fang - aroma
Fenfang - fragrant

Hualing - heather
Juan - merciful
Juan - happiness
Huian - good world
Huidei - wise Day
Huizhong - wise and loyal
Huiking - kind and gentle
Huilang - wise jade
Huiliang - kind and good
Huifang - kind and fragrant
Huifen - wise and fragrant

Changying - prosperity and brilliance
Changchang - prosperous
Chenguang - morning, light
Chongtao - spring peach
Chonghua - spring flower or spring

Shan - grace
Shaoking - young
Shihong - the world is red
Shu - fair
Shuang - frank, sincere
Shun - smooth
Shuchun - fair purity

Ehuang - beauty of August

Yu - rain
Yuan - bright world
Yubi - emerald
Yui - moon
Yuming - jade brightness
Yun - cloud
Yunru - charming
Yusheng - jade birth

I am grace
Jan - swallow
Yangling - Swallow Forest or Beijing Forest
Yanmei - swallow plum or Beijing plum
Yanyu - jade swallower

Destiny is character. Character is adjusted, including through thoughts. The most the main idea This name. The name introduces changes in character. Then the character changes fate and future. Since all people are different, any generalizations that ignore a person’s individuality are incorrect.

How to choose the right, strong and suitable name for a child in 2019?

Let's analyze your name - find out right now the meaning of the name in the fate of the child! Write to WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber +7926 697 00 47

Neurosemiotics of the name
Yours, Leonard Boyard
Switch to the value of life

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 largest nation on earth with an 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, in connection with 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, ordinary people 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 by ordinary Chinese to designate the entire clan, 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 states that formed the basis of modern China (for example, Yuan). But all foreigners were called Hu.

After marriage, a woman often does not take her husband’s surname, but leaves her maiden name, or takes her own and her husband’s double surname. In written form it looks like this: maiden name + husband's last name + 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 in Russian (literally "beautiful plum").

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, tall height, quick reaction;
  • character traits: honest, smart, diligent, honoring ancestors;
  • high goals: discoverer, scientist, patriot, recipient of 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 of China, was born, 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.”

  • The parents call the girl a 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

Ai - love Liling - beautiful jade bell
Venkian - purified Mei - plum
G - pure Ehuang - beauty of August
Jiao - beautiful Shan - grace
Jing - abundance Nuying - flower girl
Ju - chrysanthemum Row - tender
Zhaohui - clear wisdom Ting - graceful
Ki - beautiful jade Fenfang - fragrant
Kiaolian - experienced Hualing - heather
Qingzhao - understanding Shihong - the world is beautiful
Xiaoli - morning jasmine Yun - cloud
Xiaofan - dawn Yanling - forest of swallows
Xu - snow Huizhong - wise and loyal

Change of names

In the Celestial Empire, for many 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 desired, parents give the newborn, in addition to the official first name, one more name. 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 throughout his 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 is 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

Well-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 the PRC, as indeed in any other country, often call their children a beautiful, but unusual name for the cultural tradition of the country. 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.

China is a country of unique culture. Their religion, traditions and culture are so far from ours! In this article we will talk about Chinese names, the choice of which in the Middle Kingdom is still treated with special trepidation.

Exclusivity did not save the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire; they did not escape the fashion for borrowed names. But even in this, the Chinese remained true to their traditions. They famously adjusted the “imported” names to match the tone of their own. Elinna - Elena, Li Qunsi - Jones. There are even names with Christian origins. For example, Yao Su My means Joseph in translation, and Ko Li Zi Si means the name George.

In China, there is a tradition of giving posthumous names. They sum up the life lived and reflect all the deeds committed by a person in this world.

How to contact a resident of the Middle Kingdom?

Chinese addresses are somewhat unusual to our ears: “Director Zhang”, “Mayor Wang”. A Chinese person will never use two titles when addressing a person, for example, “Mr. President.” He will say "President Obama" or "Mr. Obama." When addressing a saleswoman or maid, you can use the word “Xiaojie.” This is similar to our "girlfriend".

Chinese women do not take their husband's surname after marriage. This does not interfere with “Mistress Ma” and “Mr. Wang” in life at all. These are the laws of the country. Foreigners are most often addressed by name, adding a polite title if they do not know the person’s profession or position. For example, “Mr. Mikhail.” And no middle name! He's simply not here!

The Chinese are the bearers of the great ancient culture. Although China is developed country, takes no last place on the world market, but it seems that the inhabitants of the sunny state live in some special world, preserving national traditions, own way of life and philosophical attitude towards the environment.

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