How do people translate western names into Chinese?

[coreyl]

I don't know how names that aren't originally given in Chinese are translated/written down in text. My name is Corey. How would you write my name in Chinese characters? Or do you just write it in the roman alphabet if I was writing about myself in Chinese? Please help if you can!

[Bigdumogre]

Don't know how accurate

http://www.chinese-tools.com/names

[Shelley]

There are a couple of ways to have a name in Chinese.

 

One is what is called transliteration, you find 1,2, or 3 characters that sound like your name and have pleasant meanings (at least not bad ones) and use that.

 

Or as a lot of students do, choose a chines name that has nothing to do with their own name but is a normal Chinese name and use this.

 

As Bigdumogre has pointed out on line name makers can be wrong, be careful.

 

i would always advise consulting a native speaker to help with the problematic subject of choosing a name.

[Lu]

I don't know how names that aren't originally given in Chinese are translated/written down in text. My name is Corey. How would you write my name in Chinese characters? Or do you just write it in the roman alphabet if I was writing about myself in Chinese?

It depends on context.

- If you're a foreign person who has no particular Chinese connection (and thus no Chinese name), the newspapers (or encyclopedia editors, or whoever is in charge of writing about you) will transliterate your name in characters, so Hillary Clinton is written as 希拉里·克林顿.

- If you have a Chinese friend who writes to his parents that he hung out with you, he'll likely just write your name in Latin letters: 我跟Corey去看电影. Or if you're in Chinese class and have to write about 我家有几口人 and such, you can also just write the names in Latin letters.

- If you're in Chinese class, you perhaps want to pick a Chinese name: a surname that sounds a bit like your real surname, a given name that sounds a bit like your real surname, and the whole thing sounding like a plausible Chinese name. Or if you want something that doesn't sound anything like your real name but reflects your hobbies or your star sign or whatever, that's also fine. If this is what you're looking for, let us know. Some people here are really good at coming up with nice Chinese names.

- If you're a famous foreigner who does have a connection to China, the newspapers (or encyclopedia editors, or whoever) will (or should) use that Chinese name.

- If you don't have a particular connection to China but would like to get your name on a chop or t-shirt or something for your own amusement, you can use one of those 'translate your name to Chinese' sites. 克瑞 might be a good transliteration.

- If you want to get a tattoo, don't get your name in Chinese. It's not a great choice. Better pick something else.