Opinion on chinese name

[Shelley]

I have met and also am aware of many Chinese people who pick an "English" name. Its often something not usually picked as a name and may be an interpretation of their chinese name. I find this odd, perhaps because I think their chinese name is beautiful.

 

I think sometimes it is because they think they will get more respect if they sound western, when it comes to email communications, I get lots of sales pitches from men with a first name like Wayne and a second name that is probably their chinese surname, and their business address is somewhere in China which to me defeats the object of trying to sounds western.

 

I think we should all stick to our own names, but I think the idea of Chinese language learners having a Chinese name is part of the teacher trying to include as much language immersion as possible and for a bit of fun.

 

I do think though if you are choosing a Chinese name you should ask someone who is knowledgable in the Chinese language and knows you reasonably well so as to pick something suitable.

 

[889]

Any foreigner of any note is known in China by a Chinese name.

 

It's 罗斯福. It's 丘吉尔 . It's 斯大林.

 

To me, adopting a Chinese name shows respect for the culture and the language.

 

Besides, if you spend any significant time in China and don't settle on a name yourself, someone will do it for you. And maybe tag you with something less than completely flattering.

 

(I'll lay 10-to-one that DJL's neighbours have a Chinese name for him. He just doesn't know it.)

[DavyJonesLocker]

4 hours ago, 889 said:

 

(I'll lay 10-to-one that DJL's neighbours have a Chinese name for him. He just doesn't know it.)

 

Some people do call me by a Chinese name similar to my own one but my friends use my English name as do my colleagues. 

 

4 hours ago, 889 said:

 

To me, adopting a Chinese name shows respect for the culture and the language.

 

 My name is not difficult to pronounce. Adopting a Chinese name is a loss identify  and lack of self-respect in my view. I don't feel the need to belittle myself to appease others. It's a personal viewpoint only. I don't know of any other country in the world that does this and it's certainly not in Europe Russia, so are we being disrespectful to their cultural and they to ours?

 

Anyway the op is asking for a Chinese name so I'll not try to convince her otherwise. 

 

I do agree with someone above in that there is no reason to follow the practice of taking a name similar in sound to your English name. Just find a name you like. 

 

I think it's better you ask a few Chinese people as to what's most natural to them. 

 

[Tomsima]

This thread is going off topic: if youre not comfortable using a Chinese name, don't, if you want to, do. When you learn a new language it's a little bit like being born into a new world, only this time your parents ask you what you want to be called. In this situation, you must make a choice, whether you like it or not: Do I use my English name or do I choose a Chinese name? Every personality is different, no choice is the right or wrong one. Just have fun and be ready to laugh at yourself