18

Names, kinship terms, titles, and terms of address

18.1Names: xìngmíng

The order of a Chinese name is:

family name + given name

xìng míngzi

Wáng Lìhup

/ /

Zhpng Wlimíng

In this book we translate Chinese names using Chinese word order. That is, Wáng Lìhup is translated as ‘Wang Lihua’ and not ‘Lihua Wang.’

18.1.1Family names

There are over 3500 Chinese family names. However, of these, only about 100 are widely occurring. This is probably the basis of the expression lkobkixìng ‘the old 100 family names,’ which is used to refer to ‘the people’ or ‘the common man.’

The three most common Chinese family names are Lm, Wáng, and / Zhpng. The next most common family names, representing the overwhelming majority of Chinese people, are / Liú, / Chén, / Yáng, / Zhào, Huáng,

Zhsu, / Wú, Xú, / Stn, Hú, Zht, Gpo, Lín, Hé, Gus, and / Mk.

Most family names are a single character/single syllable in length. However, there are a small number of two character/two syllable Chinese family names. The most common are / Srmk, Srtú, / Otyáng, and Huángfo.

18.1.2Given names

A given name consists of one or two characters/syllables. There is no fixed inventory of given names in Chinese as there is in English such as Ruth, Michael, Lisa, and Mark. Instead, names express meaning, and families select as names, words or phrases

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with positive connotations that they wish to associate with their child. While this method of naming is also used in the West, it is the exception rather than the rule.

In the traditional naming process, the first character of a given name is a generational name: all children in the family who are of the same gender and in the same generation share the same first character in their given name. The second character reflects some other positive characteristic. Thus, brothers might be named Yì Háo (talent) and Yì Qiáng (strength). Sisters might be named / Ymng Yí (joyful) and / Ymng Mli (beautiful).

Modern naming practice often does not include a generational name. This is especially common in mainland China. Instead, given names reflect positive attributes, and may be one or two syllables in length.

Given names are personal and somewhat private. In general, they are only used as terms of address by good friends and close acquaintances, and in closed settings such as a family, classroom, or office, where people are members of a well-defined group. Often, people use kinship terms and titles rather than names when addressing and referring to others.

18.2Kinship terms

Here are the most commonly used kinship terms and the distinctions that they reflect.

18.2.1Kinship terms for immediate family

The reference point for siblings is oneself. For example, an older brother is a brother older than oneself. If you are male and have an older brother and a younger brother, then your younger brother has two older brothers.

Your family from your perspective

!""# !$$%!""# !$$%

Wn ynu yr gè gqge, yr gè dìdi.

I have one older brother, one younger brother.

Your family from your younger brother’s perspective

!""#$ %%&!""#$ %%&

Wn ynu likng gè gqge, méi ynu dìdi.

I have two older brothers and no younger brother.

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18.2.2Kinship terms for extended family

pópo mother-in-law

(husband’s mother)

18.3Titles

Titles refer to gender and marital status, education, or occupation. When a name includes a title, the order of information is as follows:

Chinese people often use titles when addressing others or when talking about others. Titles may also be used alone or with the family name and given name.

18.3.1Titles that indicate gender and marital status

The most common titles used to reflect gender and marital status are:

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18.4Addressing others

18.4.1Addressing friends

Close friends may address each other using family name and given name together, or, if they are very close, by given name alone.

!"#

Wáng Lìhup, zko.

Wang Lihua, good morning.

!"#$%&!"#$%&

Lìhup, zuì jìn zlnmeyàng?

Lihua, how have you been recently?

Friends or close acquaintances may also address each other using the prefix lko ‘old’ or xiko ‘small’ before the family name as follows:

lko or xiko do not literally mean ‘old’ and ‘little’ here. lko is used for those older than oneself, and xiko is used for those younger than oneself.

18.4.2Addressing family and others with kinship terms

In China, people use kinship terms rather than names to address relatives. Kinship terms are also used in informal contexts to address people who are not relatives. The term that is used depends upon the age and gender of the person whom you are addressing. Here are the kinship terms most commonly used when talking with people who are not your relatives.

18.4.3Colloquial terms of address used with strangers

The following terms are used in informal contexts to address strangers

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18.4.4Using titles as terms of address

Titles are commonly used as terms of address. The titles xipnsheng ‘Mr.,’ tàitai ‘Mrs.,’ xikojie ‘miss,’ and / shrfu ‘master’ are used alone without any additional name to address strangers in a polite way. / shrfu ‘master’ is often used in mainland China as a polite way to address a man in relatively informal contexts. xikojie is used to address young women in service positions such as in restaurants and shops. ftren ‘Mrs.’ and nushì ‘Miss’ are very formal and their use is restricted to formal contexts such as speeches and formal events. The titles presented in 18.3.2 can all be used as terms of address. For occupations that are not used as titles or terms of address, see

Í19.3

18.5Addressing new acquaintances and negotiating terms of address

When you meet someone for the first time, you need to determine how to address them. Since given names are not freely used, and family names are generally not used by themselves, an initial conversation usually includes some negotiation about terms of address. The most common expressions are as follows.

The neutral and most common way to inquire about someone’s family name is:

!"!"

Nm xìng shénme?

What is your family name? (neutral question)

A more formal and polite way to inquire about someone’s family name is:

!L

Nm guì xìng?

What is your family name? (polite, formal)

The most common way to reply to either of these questions is:

!

Wn xìng Wáng.

My family name is Wang.

A very polite and humble response to the formal question is:

( )

Bì xìng (Wáng).

My humble family name is (Wang).

While the polite form of the question is fairly common, the polite humble form of the response is rarely used.

The neutral and most common way to inquire about someone’s family name and given name is:

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!"# !$%&!"# !$%&

Nm xìng shénme, jiào shénme míngzi?

What is your family name and what is your given name?

The neutral and most common way to respond to this question is:

!"#$%

Wn xìng Wáng, jiào Lìhup.

My family name is Wang, my given name is Lihua.

The very polite way to inquire about someone’s family name and given name is:

!"#$%!"#$\

Qmng wèn, ztnxìng dàmíng?

Excuse me, What is your (honorable) family name and your (great) given name?

The polite, humble response to this question is:

!"#$%&!"#$%&

Bì xìng Wáng, xiko míng Jiànguó.

My humble family name is Wang, and my small name is Jianguo.

People often do not inquire about given names when they first meet. When you have established a friendship, you may inquire about a given name by asking:

!"#$!"#$

Nm jiào shénme míngzi?

What is your name?

The reply to this question is either the family name plus the given name, or the given name alone:

!"#

Wn jiào Wáng Mlilíng.

I am called Wang Meiling. (My name is Wang Meiling.)

To make a general inquiry about someone’s identity, ask:

!!

Nm shì shéi?

Who are you?

!

Nm shì . . . ?

You are . . . ?

!"

Nm shì nli wèi?

Who are you? (polite)

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To learn how someone prefers to be addressed by you, ask:

!"#$%&!"#$%&

Wn yrnggpi zlnme chqnghu nm?

How should I address you?

18.6Name cards and business cards

Name cards and business cards are widely used in China, and people often exchange name cards when they meet for the first time. The information on a person’s name card will help you to determine how to address him or her.

When handing your card to someone, use both hands, and give it to the person so that the writing is facing him or her. Receive a card with both hands, read the card, and thank the person who gave you the card or comment on the information on the card so that it is clear that you have read it. If business cards are exchanged during a meeting or a meal, it is customary to place the cards you receive on the table arranged according to hierarchy so that you can refer to them as you talk.

The organization of the Chinese name card or business card is typically as follows:

Business Organization

Title

NAME education degree

(Contact information)

Address

Telephone number

Mobile phone number

Fax number

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XX !

In mainland China, cards written in Chinese are usually printed horizontally. In Taiwan, cards may also be printed vertically.

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X

X

18.7Addressing letters and envelopes

18.7.1Special terms for the recipient (addressee) and the sender

The name of the recipient is typically followed by recipient’s title, or the title plus the expression shsu, / qm, or / dà qm. / qm and / dà qm are more formal than shsu. All three expressions mean recipient.

The name of the sender may be followed by the expression jì or / jipn. / jipn is more formal than jì. Both expressions mean sender.

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18.7.2The format of a horizontal envelope (commonly used in mainland China).

stamp

Address of the recipient

Name of Recipient / ( )

Address of the sender, name of sender / jipn

stamp

!"#$%"&'

!"#=

!"#$%&'

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18.7.3The format of a vertical envelope (commonly used in Taiwan)

stamp

R

mm

ee

/

/

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stamp

In vertical format, addresses are written from top to bottom.

18.7.4Terms used in addresses and their order of presentation

Addresses in China are presented from the largest unit to the smallest. If the postal code is included in the address, it occurs before the name of the city.

The major regional distinctions used in addresses in order of size are as follows:

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The terms used to refer to the units in street addresses differ somewhat in Taiwan and in mainland China. Here is a summary of the most common terms. The term hútòng ‘alley’ is used in Beijing, though as streets are restructured, alleys are being eliminated.

lù road, street

/ hào number

Two sample addresses in Beijing:

!"#$%&'NU

!"#$%&'NU

Blijrng shì xrchéng qt hóngxrng hútóng 18 hào

18 Red Star Alley, West District, Beijing

!"#$%"&'!"#$%"&'

Blijrng shì xrn jiq knu nán dà jiq shí hào

10 South Xinjiekou Street, Beijing

In Beijing, street names often make reference to their location inside or outside of a traditional city gate. Here is an example:

!"#!"#

Jiànguó mén wài dà jiq

The big street outside of the Jianguo Gate.

Three sample addresses in Taiwan:

!"#$%&NSO

!"#$%&NSO

Táibli shì Hépíng dsng lù yr duàn 162 hào

162 Section 1 Hoping East Road, Taipei

QMTQQ= !"# $%&'NUN

QMTQQ= !"# $%&'NUN

40744 Táizhsng shì xr tún qt Táizhsng gkng lù spn duàn 181 hào

181 Section 3, Taichung Harbor Road, Xitun district, Taichung, 40744

!"#$%&'#()*+(,QO

!"#$%&'#()*+(,QO

Gpoxióng xiàn qrngshum zhèn ynngkpng xipng, zhèn nán lm gpng shpn nán lù 42 hào

42 South Gangshan Road, Zhennan Neighborhood, Yongkang Village, Qingshui Township, Gaoxiong (County)

For greetings and goodbyes in letters, see

Í20.3

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