Chineasy to learn Chinese
The first time I went to China I paid a man at a kiosk who was offering to write your name in Chinese on a framed piece of white paper. I paid to have this done. Then I saw a seller with the same offer, cheaper, but using gold was well as black and white. So I bought that. I was upset when i saw the athe second seller's version was different from the first.
I asked the tour guide which was the authentic translation. She told me, "They are both equally valid. There is no set translation of the English name Angela. You can write it by the sound, with a choice of symbols which make that sound or something similar, or the meaning."
There are at least three ways of translating your name into Chinese on a business card:
1 Pick sounds which are similar to the English pronunciation of your name. If necessary, if your name is long or complicated or hard to pronounce, or contains letters which are not easily said, use the diminutive, a shortened form, even the initials.
For example, my name is Angela
Looking at the signs for Nee Ann City, I could take the Chinese for
Ann
Nee
That makes me Annie.
The Chinese word pronounced An means peace. It is written as one character, consisting of two symbols one above the other, the sign for roof above the sign for woman. The roof sign is a horizontal sline with two small veritcals handing down at each end and a small upright for a chinmey in the middle.
I typed into Google translate
Angela
peace
woman
roof
English
teacher
Ānjí lā
hépíng
nǚrén
wūdǐng
English
Teacher
Translating back Yingyu I am given the words
English language
I typed in
great
wise
wonderful
I was given the translations
Da for great is the only useful visual. It is easy enough for a child to learn. Since the firs Chinese word a child will learn to write is their own name, parents like to pick a name which is easy for a novice to write.
Alternatively, I could take the Chinese word for 'Angel', or two signs for 'female angel', since Angela would be the Italian and feminine version of angel - the masculine being Angelo.
This could be accompanied by my face photo and a simplified drawing of an angel with wings.
Alternatively I could make up a new name based on my profession, such as:
great teacher.
Try out the different versions of your name by asking several native speakers. Look at how your name appears when typed or written by hand. You might want something to write easily as a signature. Chinese names are usually three syllables, surname or family name or clan first, then the two given names.
I might be 1 London or English 2 Angel 3 Teacher.
However the word for English is England language, Ying being English.
That makes five syllables which is too long for a name.
Choose a name which sounds good when others say it. Also something you recognize when they call your name and introduce you. Also something you can say in Chinese.
To introduce yourself you say
wo - I
Then add your name.
You do not need the verb to be in many Asian languages. I and your name is sufficient.
For the most basic introduction:
Wo Angela.
Ni? (prounced knee) - you? Equivalent of you are.
After growing confident with this, you can progress to proper spoken and written introductions.
Into Google translate I get
My
name
is
Angela
My name is Angela
Wǒ de
míngchēng
shì
ānjí lā
wǒ jiào ānjí lā
You can do the same for your business associated, your spouse, children, parents, son and daughter in law, everybody travelling with you.
About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
