“Old Hundred Names” (nao bai xing) is an idiomatic Chinese expression that refers to ordinary people or common people. The phrase takes its meaning from the fact that there are just a few common surnames in China, and a large percentage of the population have those names. Historical evidence indicates that China was once a […]
List of the most used Chinese surnames (last names) and the meanings behind them, in ranking order of popularity: Li n. 1: Chinese plum 2: judge 3: a star’s name Wang n. 1: emperor 2: king 3: prince 4: court 5: dynasty 6: chief 7: grandfather; grandmother 8: ruler 9: champion Zhang n. 1: proposal […]
Choosing a baby name for the baby girl or baby boy is one of a few most important decisions by parents. This is no difference for Chinese parents. Months before the baby is born, they look up dictionaries, talk to friends and even consult specialists in order to get a perfect baby name. How are […]
In Chinese culture the last name is the same for all family members, and usually is only one syllable. There are more first names than last in China. It isn’t unusual for a man to introduce himself by his last name even in a casual situation because there are more than a billion first names. […]