What do Chinese names mean?

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Chinese names appear in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, and Singapore.

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 Chinese names have derivatives in Vietnam.   

The same sign language is used in Japan. 

You will also encounter these names in Chinese quarters and restaurants all over the world.

In addition you may see them in businesses online.

I shall list them alphabetically in English.

Kim/Jin means gold or money.

The Chinese character for Li
Pronunciation	Lǐ (Mandarin) Lei5 (Cantonese)
Language(s)	Chinese
Origin
Language(s)	Old Chinese
Meaning	Plum, plum tree
Other names
Variant form(s)	Lee, Lei, Lie
Derivative(s)	Lee, Ri, Yi, Rhee, Rhie, Reeh (Korean)

Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, easier to remember if you start with the family name Lee. 

China has a Li River. Easiest to remember if you recall:

Chinese 理 (lǐ) meaning "reason, logic", 

立 (lì) meaning "stand, establish", 

黎 (lí) meaning "black, dawn", 

力 (lì) meaning "power, capability, influence" (which is usually only masculine) or

丽 (lì) meaning "beautiful" (usually only feminine).

So, if you are asking a calligrapher to write your name in Chinese, don't be surprised if another person writes your name differently.

Lim means forest.

You might also come across people named Lam or Lum.

The first name Shan is mountain. Shan Shan is plural, mountains.

Popular Family Names

 The top three—Wang (王), Li (李), and Zhang (張)—cover more than 20% of the population.

Useful Website

https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/chinese

Facebook polyglot page

About the Author

Angela Lansbury speaks and teaches English and French and public speaking and aspires to be a polyglot (speaker of many languages.)

Member of 5 Toastmasters International speakers clubs. Join BHA as a guest. Wed Aug 5th 7 pm Singapore time.