31–40 of 49 posts
Wow, makes my family's naming convention of "rulers and biblical figures admired by the Ulster Scots and/or Presbyterian Church" seem rather dull. Far too many Roberts, Williams and Davids in the family tree, gets confusing when you're trying to figure out which Robert it was who drowned rowing a load of bricks across the lough. A few more "Forthright dragon"s would really have livened it up.
The article could be way more interesting if it cross referenced names of Taiwan vs Mainland China. Names of newborns in China after 2000s are heavily influenced by TV shows, novels by Chiung Yao etc. (from Taiwan), due to parents love watching those TV shows, and a lot of them cannot remember the remaining of the genealogy book. Names heavily used by people born in Taiwan in 1980s, gains popularity in 2000s - 2010s in Mainland China.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The article explains it perfectly: Understandably, male names still do not spot the “woman” radical (女, nü). 女 explicitly refers to women, whereas the “man” radical (亻, ren2) is more flexible, as it refers to humans. This is also consistent with my understanding. On a cultural note, many ppl call Westerners with PC leanings “白左” and view the PC movement as a bit ridiculous. So definitely don’t apply modern PC standar…
I feel like the lines I quoted goes against the lines you quoted. Maybe I am misreading the authors intent.
> 14,872 Chinese characters. aren't those words from an English point of view?
No, many words are multiple characters. I think this is a pretty good explanation of the structure for English speakers: https://www.zompist.com/yingzi/yingzi.htm
In China, usually you could tell a person’s age by reading the names. However, the exception would be if the family’s ancestors were literate thus made a genealogy book, where the book will tell you which character could be used for the first character of a given name for the next few hundred years of the descendants; plus the descendants was able to protect a from the political movements in 1960s. My family’s geneal…
In my family I think the second character is a generational name, from a poem or something selected way long ago and the third character is chosen by the recorder from a pool recycled for evey generation.
Also fun, as a 1.5g banana without too many connections back home, my parents also worry a bit about how I'll get my kids entered should that ever come to pass after they are gone.
In China, usually you could tell a person’s age by reading the names. However, the exception would be if the family’s ancestors were literate thus made a genealogy book, where the book will tell you which character could be used for the first character of a given name for the next few hundred years of the descendants; plus the descendants was able to protect a from the political movements in 1960s. My family’s geneal…
Had no idea they tried getting rid of it in the 60s, but that I guess explains why I was told it was hidden when I asked to see it. In my family I think the second character is a generational name, from a poem or something selected way long ago and the third character is chosen by the recorder from a pool recycled for evey generation. Also fun, as a 1.5g banana without too many connections back home, my parents also…
To those who are not Chinese: yes, “clan association” is a thing among the Chinese, especially among clans who are likely to have expats - e.g. clans from coastal provinces like Shanghai, Guangdong, Fujian. My Shi clan has chapters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, and probably at least a few major cities on the West Coast of the US.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Had no idea they tried getting rid of it in the 60s, but that I guess explains why I was told it was hidden when I asked to see it. In my family I think the second character is a generational name, from a poem or something selected way long ago and the third character is chosen by the recorder from a pool recycled for evey generation. Also fun, as a 1.5g banana without too many connections back home, my parents also…
I would suggest getting in touch with a local chapter of your clan association (宗親會). To those who are not Chinese: yes, “clan association” is a thing among the Chinese, especially among clans who are likely to have expats - e.g. clans from coastal provinces like Shanghai, Guangdong, Fujian. My Shi clan has chapters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, and probably at least a few major cities on the West Coas…
Whether that's actually true or not IDK but there's also the double irony of my parents almost having been killed in 89 but for a last minute decision to stay with the local movement. For a triple dose, one of them is a Trump/Bannon/Guo paleocon now, the other a mildy liberal pro XJP nationalist - and then there's me, the Hayeck/Nozick/Cato reading classical Liberal. Real fun.
In China, usually you could tell a person’s age by reading the names. However, the exception would be if the family’s ancestors were literate thus made a genealogy book, where the book will tell you which character could be used for the first character of a given name for the next few hundred years of the descendants; plus the descendants was able to protect a from the political movements in 1960s. My family’s geneal…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would suggest getting in touch with a local chapter of your clan association (宗親會). To those who are not Chinese: yes, “clan association” is a thing among the Chinese, especially among clans who are likely to have expats - e.g. clans from coastal provinces like Shanghai, Guangdong, Fujian. My Shi clan has chapters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, and probably at least a few major cities on the West Coas…
I'm a Deng, and don't think we have that though it's been suggested that I have the dubious honor of having been inscribed in the same book as mr Xiaoping. Whether that's actually true or not IDK but there's also the double irony of my parents almost having been killed in 89 but for a last minute decision to stay with the local movement. For a triple dose, one of them is a Trump/Bannon/Guo paleocon now, the other a m…
It goes both ways, there's bound to be an increased inbound migration to China from other philosophies and it's not obvious we won't end up contaminating them a bit too !
Wow, makes my family's naming convention of "rulers and biblical figures admired by the Ulster Scots and/or Presbyterian Church" seem rather dull. Far too many Roberts, Williams and Davids in the family tree, gets confusing when you're trying to figure out which Robert it was who drowned rowing a load of bricks across the lough. A few more "Forthright dragon"s would really have livened it up.
I ended up breaking all possible traditions from all families involved, by putting no Christian names but pre-christian greeks keywords for her first 2 european-sounding names, using a scientific reference for her 2-character Chinese name, and for the family name character, use my own french last name's second syllable transliterated.
I got scolded from every possible elder in all languages but I never felt so revolutionary :D (and all her names are 'normal', just 0 reference to any tradition - I didn't name her aquarium or anything :D). And at least she will have names everyone can pronounce, unlike me who still can't be named correctly by most asian language speakers grrr