Do Chinese people comment on your Chinese name?

[Scoobyqueen]

Whenever I give my business card I always have the same reaction from Chinese

Edited April 15, 2013 at 07:04 PM by Scoobyqueen
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[Meng Lelan]

They always say that about a Chinese name that is chosen by a non-native.

I don't bask in the praise like most westerners do, usually in response I ask about their Chinese name, the characters that go into it, why it was chosen, etc. sometimes I ask about sibling names to see if there is some pattern, sometimes there is.

[leeyah]

Business etiquette worldwide includes techniques of hospitality, mutual admiration and mutual complimenting. In China, traditionally this is even more so, it's all about saving face and giving face. So, your surname 孔 with all the weight that it carries, is of course welcomed by your business partners. And if you've got a nice name to go with it, you may consider the compliment as an act of politeness mixed with a dose of sincerity.

From my informal experience, I'd say complimenting on Chinese people's names is acceptable, but do this mildly and only when you really do understand the meaning, because usually a laowai isn't supposed to be capable of understanding hanzi, and most people will suspect that you are just complimenting for the sake of complimenting. If you happen to like the characters, but don't know their meaning, asking for explanation will be taken as a compliment, too.

This may not be very relevant to your circumstances, but generally speaking, in non-formal 交际, in a more relaxed, spontaneous, interest-free communication with ordinary people, where you don't need to be too polite, my impression is that adopting a Chinese surname if you're a non-native may sometimes be a sensitive issue. I don't know why, but unless you are inconspicuous when you introduce yourself by your Chinese 姓名, from what I've seen may, by some individuals nowadays be taken as a kind of insult. A simple given name (i.e. transcription of your "English" name) will do just fine for most laowai. On the other hand, being if only of distant Chinese origin (or mixed) by some unwritten standard entitles you to a Chinese surname, because you either: already have it as part of your English name (paternal surname) or if you don't, you may still revive your Chinese identity by adopting your mum's/grandmas'/great grandma's Chinese surname. Saying you were adopted by Chinese parents in your home country or were raised by a Chinese nanny works perfectly fine too, you automatically become almost as Chinese as you need to be, especially if you happen to speak the language. And with the huge population of overseas Chinese descendants returning to China, sometimes a Chinese surname may provoke some really interesting responses from, usually VERY ORDINARY, people such as: "哦 你姓黎? 那 你的爸爸妈妈也是中国人吗?" ...

[muyongshi]

Yeah I get comments and if I think there is something to mention about their name I will do so.

It seems like there is just a feel for whether or not there is something to comment on in their name. Like I have a friend named 美元 no joke and his 姓 is 符 so that made it even more of a joke. It was quite obvious there was somthing funny to that one. He was quite willing to be the joke and explain how his dad, from the country side loved those two characters and had no clue about even the US as a country at that point. Also, a friend named 罗路平. He has a great story- his mom gave birth to him on the road while going to the hospital. Hence the name. I run into others and sometimes its a comment about the 姓- oh wow that's interesting, I think I only know one or two people with that one. Or the name－ another guy 文桥 who is the head of the foreign exchange at the uni I went to. I immediately caught on to that and mentioned how appropriate his name was for the position. Oh course later I come to find out that that is all he talks about when he introduces himself anyway to foreigners so I got lucky by catching it.

[Neil_H]

My name Neil sounds similar to the word for an Ox or Cow. Because of my size difference (1.84m 100kg+) to them my parents in law call me Da Neil. Which sounds more like Dar Niow when they say it.

[imron]

There is a foreign TV personality in China who goes by the same name.

[rlf1286]

Chinese people always get a laugh out of my chosen Chinese name. It's not much of a Chinese name at all, but rather a transliteration. 罗伯特 LuoBoTe. For about a year, I searched for a real Chinese name, but finally found my full contentment in the Chinese version of my name, Robert.

[Artem]

I thought it was Robot, up until the last word of the post.

[trevelyan]

I go mostly by 戴维 these days. Everyone understands that it's a transliteration and most of the time they can write whatever characters they want. When I went by another more Chinese name I kept having to repeat it all the time before people would understand.

Sometimes, it's easiest to just go with the flow.

[Hofmann]

Some Chinese people can't read my Chinese name.

[RuiXue]

My Chinese name used by my Chinese family who doesn't speak english, is just a translitteration of my real name Jennie. So my frequently used chinese name is simply 珍妮. I also do have a given Chinese name an msn friend gave me a few years ago, and that would be my screen name on here. RuiXue or 瑞雪. He came up with that name because I'm from Sweden 瑞典 and we have snow in winter 雪 I don't normally use 瑞雪 when I'm in China because my inlaws only know me as 珍妮. But maybe I should use 瑞雪 more:conf No questions have been asked about my Chinese name anyways.

[Caidanbi]

My Chinese name was chosen by my professor, who actually is from Wuhan, so I haven't had any troubles with it sounding strange or anything. In fact, when I was working as a Chinese-English translator, I had both my real name and Chinese name on my resume, and some of my clients, who were Chinese, thought I was Chinese too. They were really shocked when they found out I wasn't, it was kind of funny.

[Lu]

I also often gets compliments on how nice my Chinese name sounds. It's about as meaningful as the remark that I speak Chinese so well.

I think the 'remark on the other's name' perhaps comes from the ritual of exchanging business cards: you are given this card, and naturally you examine it, which then makes it natural to say something about it. Complimenting the other person's name is an obvious remark. (And if you're a foreigner, just reading the name out loud gives the other person the opportunity to compliment you on your Chinese reading skills.)

I use my Chinese name quite a lot. My real surname is long and difficult even for Dutch people, so if I talk with someone Chinese and we're on xiansheng-xiaojie basis, or just a surname is needed, I'm Shi xiaojie.

[iolair]

People always comment on my name because it is 李安, the same as the Taiwanese director Ang Lee. This was a bit annoying when 'Brokeback Mountain' came out because some of my students started making wisecracks about me being a 变态导演.

When I chose it, I didn't actually realise this. I just needed a Chinese name really quickly so that I could get a name chop to buy a scooter. 李安 is close to my English name and the characters were easy enough for me to write (I couldn't speak a word of Chinese at the time, let alone write anything).

When I lived in Taiwan, a lot of people used to say this name was too strong in meaning for a woman. One of my friends even told me I should change it to 李安安. Whatever! Since I've moved to the PRC, where two character names are much more common, nobody has said that. But I still get the director thing all the time. People have got to make chit-chat somehow I guess...

[小贝丝]

I've heard someone say my name was common for girls in lingerie ads in China! :blink:

haha. I was not impressed, but it's too late to change it now!

[xiaocai]

I was wondering if other foreigners experience comments on their Chinese name and indeed if Chinese people go around commenting on each other’s names in general.

Also, am I supposed to comments on their names too. If so, any pointers on what one could say?

From a Chinese point of view, if it is the first time i meet you and I don't know anything about you I'd comment on your name then to be on the safe side. I'd assume that you like your Chinese name otherwise you would not be using it.

On the other hand, do not comment on their names unless you are 100 percent sure they like their names. You can't choose the name your parents gave you (well, generally speaking), and not all parents are good at giving names. Some of my friends hate their given names and would prefer people refer them with their surnames only or just part of their given names if possible.

[skylee]

On the other hand, do not comment on their names unless you are 100 percent sure they like their names. You can't choose the name your parents gave you (well, generally speaking), and not all parents are good at giving names.

Very true. Only say positive things about someone's name, or say nothing at all.

[doraemon]

The only thing I've heard people say about another person's name, mine included is “好名字！” Regardless of whether they actually mean it or not, it's polite nonetheless.

[小贝丝]

Yes, I hear 好名字 too.