Table of Contents
Why do so many Chinese words sound the same?
Many Chinese words sound similar to English speakers and indeed most Westerners in general, due to the fact that they have many sibilants (hissy sounds) as well as few syllable codas (syllable endings) compared to European languages.
How many versions of Chinese are there?
Officially, there are ten different varieties of Chinese, although some sources only list eight because the last two are only spoken by less than 1\% of the population. These variants are written using Chinese characters and do not have their own written form.
Why do Chinese speakers use Western names for their children?
By using Western names, Chinese speakers are actually borrowing the Western interpersonal communication system, which is different from the Chinese ones governed by Confucian paradigm, says Professor Li.
Is there a difference between Cantonese and Chinese names?
But there’s a major difference. Western names of Chinese speakers are not only used between close acquaintances, but also professionally and in formal occasions. Although the practice can be observed more in the Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong, it is not uncommon in Mandarin-speaking mainland China and Taiwan.
Is it common for Chinese people to have two names?
It’s not uncommon for people from the Chinese-speaking world to have two different names – a Chinese and a Western one. While this serves a practical purpose, it also has social implications. You might have heard of movie star Jackie Chan, but you sure do not know he is addressed as Cheng Long in Chinese.
Why do Chinese people have unconventional names?
It also happens that when there is special meaning in one’s Chinese name, one would choose an English name with similar meaning. Examples include: Rainy, Sky, Money, Cloud, Ice and River. Sometimes, in order to have unconventional names, Chinese speaking people get inspirations from famous brands.