4 replies to this topic

[Pendragon]

I hope this is the right forum section for my question.

Nowadays many foreigners are adopting a Chinese name for themselves. I wonder whether there are customs about chosing an appropriate surname. For example are some surnames more appropriate for a foreigner than others? Maybe the most common ones are more suitable than uncommon ones, or the other way around?

If I introduce myself to someone from China and it turns out that I've adopted his/her surname, would that be awkward? Clearly I don't belong to his clan.

I suppose it's not a new phenomenon for non-Chinese people to adopt a Chinese name, peoples have integrated into Chinese society for centuries. Did this result in some established practices?

Actually my girlfriend has already given me the surname 白(it's the translation of my Dutch surname), and I've grown quite attached to it.

[Dongbei]

I've been wondering the same thing. Fortunately my Swedish surname also has a rather straightforward translation that exists as a surname (東), but I guess not everyone is as lucky.

[William O'Chee]

I don't know why you should feel embarrassed by adopting a hinse surname, and then meeting someone of the same surname. It would be an interesting talking point, and probably endear yourself to the person in question.

Of course, you could always adopt one of the less common names.

[ghostexorcist]

I took a basic Chinese course and my teacher gave all of us Chinese name. Mine is Ma Hanming (馬漢明). My last name starts with an M and has lots of A's, but I'm assuming she gave me this name because it's a common one for foreigners.

[SNK_1408]

I took a basic Chinese course and my teacher gave all of us Chinese name. Mine is Ma Hanming (馬漢明). My last name starts with an M and has lots of A's, but I'm assuming she gave me this name because it's a common one for foreigners.

馬漢明, that's like my cousin name. It will sound like Ma Han-myeong in Sino-Korean.