Learn how English-to-Chinese name translation works, and how to learn mandarin Chinese language are used to write English names.
Why do English Speakers Transliterate Their Names Into Chinese?
Because English and Chinese are such remarkably different languages, it is difficult for English words to be written and pronounced in Chinese. To begin, the phonetic systems of Chinese and English are so different that many sounds and sound combinations are not mutually shared.
Added to this is the fact that the writing systems of English and Chinese are different. English has an alphabetic script, which allows for many combinations of individual phonemes and letters. On the other hand, Chinese employs a logographic script that uses characters to represent both a particular meaning and one whole syllable (rather than one phoneme or letter).
As a result, most English names cannot be pronounced or written according to the rules of the Chinese language. This means that rather than pronouncing English names as they are pronounced in English, they are transliterated in order to create rough equivalents that can be written and pronounced in Chinese.
How do Chinese Translated Names Work?
To illustrate how name transliteration works, take the names “Mark” and “Aaron”. “Mark” is often transliterated into Chinese using two Chinese characters. The pronunciation of these characters are “ma” and “ke”. The name “Aaron” might be translated using characters that are pronounced “an” and “ran”.
When choosing Chinese characters for a Chinese name, it is important to consider not only the pronunciation but also the individual meanings of these characters. The meanings of learning Chinese characters can be positive, neutral, or negative. It is always best to learn Chinese language characters with positive meanings and connotations. If not positive, characters should at least have neutral meanings.
For the name “Mark”, the characters used have the meanings “horse” (ma), and “gram”(ke). These are rather neutral meanings. The characters used to transliterate “Aaron” are “peace” (an) and “benevolent” (ran). These can be considered positive meanings.
What is the Best Way to Get a Transliterated Chinese Name?
There are several ways to get transliterated Chinese names. The best method is to consult with someone who has a deep understanding of both English and Chinese languages. This will help ensure that the Chinese characters chosen have positive connotations and are phonetically suitable.
Another option is to use websites and online tools that transliterate English names. These should list several different character combinations and options for each syllable of the transliterated name. This gives people more control of their final name, and the ability to learn Chinese language and choose characters with meanings that they might especially want as part of their names. However, consultation with a bilingual Chinese speaker should always be sought before making a final decision.
Extra for Experts: Non-transliterated Names
When choosing a Chinese name, it does not necessarily have to be a transliteration of an English name. Instead, a “real” Chinese name can be adopted. This is much like Chinese people adopting common English names such as “Paul” or “Jessica”.
Translating an English name into Chinese is essential for anyone who is learning Chinese, interacting with Chinese culture, and is useful for people traveling through China. Those who are interested in having their names transliterated into Chinese should consult with someone who has a good understanding of both Chinese and English to ensure that suitable and positive characters are chosen.
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