Adopting Chinese surname

[gerri]

My favorite example for Chinese or Japanese who learn that Westerners always say their given names first: "My name is Bond. James Bond."

As a somewhat traditionally raised central European, the whole idea of adopting a name strikes me as very odd (in my parts - Austria, - a title you earn such as the PhD is seen as basically becoming a part of your name, but all other changes require state approval. Nicknames notwithstanding, of course.)

At the same time, having a family name that is the German equivalent of Smith, I don't feel any particular allegiance to family/clan... would be like feeling that all Wang are one clan. My brother changed his surname when he married, taking the name of his wife, and I think I'd do something like that as well.

Still, different people, different families, different ideas. Which, I guess, is to say that one has a right to be irate about a "wrongful" adoption of a name, but needs to understand that others will see it differently.

[Wufnu]

I asked my teacher, and two native mainland Chinese classmates, to help me choose a Chinese name. My last name is Pruitt which, apparently, isn't very easy for a native to say. They brought up some word that sounded, to me, like "poo" and I said "no way".

I had the bright idea that my name was "Justin" which is like "just in" which sent them on some sort of mental path and we ended up with 周杰里. Sounds good to me and they all agreed it sounded quite normal and Chinese. Should I ever meet a disgruntled man in China with the last name of 周 then I would probably ask him to get a petition signed by every person on Earth with the surname of 周 to have me change my adopted name. It's only fair that they all get to have their say.

On the flip side, if a Chinese person were to have my last name I would be astonished. It's rather rare. I'd be more interested in how he heard about it than anything else. Then I'd probably buy him a drink and welcome him to the family

[Lu]

周杰里. That makes you look like 周杰伦's brother. Not a bad thing :-)

[Wufnu]

Hey, we're family now. Maybe I can go hit him up for some cash.