I’ll provide the answer at the bottom of the post. And since we want to be complete, here are the characters in simplified Chinese (where the box is now a “Z” and the sheep has only 2 legs) and historical Chinese (where the right hand character really does look like a 4-legged animal’s profile.). In addition to your purely Chinese name (Wong Qin Qing, seemingly a Catonese/Mandarin mix) in family name – given name order, you also have a western style name (Minnie Wong, whereby "Minnie" is probably the given name you chose) in given name – family name order. I also understand that Japanese people may also read them, but someone please help me out here. And I thought trying to read and decipher Hebrew was difficult…, Hi Val, thank you for the lovely comment. Now you know how a Chinese name looks like. It is quite possible for you to have two different styles of your name: one in traditional Chinese, the other in simplified Chinese. E.g. If you’re wondering how to say your name in Chinese, there are plenty of resources to figure it out. It’s very useful for pasting into things like Google search engines and family tree software. It’s like a sheep with a box on its back, beside a skinny Xmas tree. The top 100 surnames account for about 85% of the population, and the phrase ‘100 surnames’ or ‘100 families’ in Chinese is often used to refer to ‘everybody’ or ‘the ordinary people’. Who is it? I grew up in English, and for the ultimate irony, I took French at university. pinyin. If you try pronouncing Yip like Jip, you’ll get a sense of its true sound. The Yang surname members adopted many local sounding and customizable Western style or another language beside Mandarin Chinese surnames with even … English. For that reason, my paternal family names could be any of Yip, Ip, Jip or a dozen variations. We have very few documents but thankfully one of them is an immigration certificate in Chinese and English. Pinyin (漢語拼音) or the standardized spellings of Mandarin Chinese words in English, is like a language unto itself. Oui, c’est vrai. with standard Mandarin pronunciation. Title of book. Names are an important type of vocabulary. The surname Shi refers to a “stone.” It is also derived from a Chinese word, which means “to recognize.” 59. © All rights reserved 2017-2021. As surnames are important in one’s life, do remember to address a Chinese, instead of Mr. Zhang, he is addressed as Zhang Mr. – 张先生（Zhang Xiansheng）. Especially if your name is three syllables or longer, it can be difficult to find a natural-sounding name in Chinese with online tools. In this upper beginner clip, learn how to ask about someone's surname, as well as talk a bit about what you do. China is one of the countries in the world who attaches great importance to politeness. Over 100,000 Chinese translations of English words and phrases. Chinese surnames are given first for names written in Chinese, which is the opposite of Western naming convention where surnames come last. But what is? Now let’s talk about getting unstuck. As the majority of other Chinese fellows, I have a Single-character surname. MAO Zedong, ZHOU Enlai and XI Jinping. If this applied to all Chinese names, it would be easy to figure out which … Chinese Translation of “what's your name?” | The official Collins English-Chinese Dictionary online. In Chinese, we use the surname + Mr. / Ms. / Miss, the structure is as follows. Which one belongs to you? However, I am resourceful, and I’ve been collecting documents for the past twenty years. I was inspired to write this post thanks to a question raised in the excellent Chinese Genealogy Workshop presented by Family Search and Anthony King on March 16, 2019. DAY 28: Where is my mobile phone?我的手机在哪里？. Enter your last name to find its meaning and origin. Learn how to say the Chinese phrase for What is your surname? This is what I did when I started learning Chinese. Shen. Like in English, to address a Chinese person who you meet in a formal context, we can call him or her Mr. Ms. or Miss. A Chinese name is hard to identify even if it’s typed out. If you haven’t yet signed into Family Search, go ahead and get an account. As we shared, Huang, Wong, Ng, Ong, Vong, and even Oei can all refer to the same Chinese surname: 黄. For more on this, see More than you want to know about simplified characters by the University of San Diego. Well, it’s time for you to get yourself a Chinese name. Yang (; simplified Chinese: 杨; traditional Chinese: 楊; pinyin: Yáng) is the transcription of a Chinese family name.It is the sixth most common surname in Mainland China.It is the 16th surname on the Hundred Family Surnames text.. Names are a very significant example of vocabulary. my name is Li Xiaolong(my name is Bruce Lee) When people ask what your name is in Chinese, 我叫 plus your name is the easiest way to say my name is in Chinese. If you’ve been able to get over the embarrassment of asking a kindly elder in your family to write your family name for you, you may still get something you can’t read. Who is it? We can now start looking for her village of origin. There is a good chance your family name will be there. And if you are reading this and nodding your head, let me explain some of the reasons why it might be so hard. ], Genealogist & historian, writer and storyteller with www.past-presence.com. What is your surname? Take a free one-on-one online Chinese lesson now! I (am) called Li Xiaolong liberal. Most Chinese people have their surname written first but that doesn't make it your first name. So if you need a Chinese name, here are a few tips to finally get one! We recommend you to choose a word with similar pronunciation with your original surname. And for the given name, please think well what kind of image you want to convey to the person, or what kind of person you want to become. More than you want to know about simplified characters, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/, Chinatown through a wide lens: the photography of Yucho Chow. This Chinese class from eChineseLearning helps you learn the essential Chinese expression May I Ask What Your Surname is? Pinyin. Can you guess? I can’t speak to the difficulty of reading Hebrew. Shao also refers to “pottery.” 57. I am lucky to have a copy of my name thanks to the work of my older cousins but there are many Chinese descendants who don’t. How to Say My Name Is in Chinese Characters and Pinyin 1. What is Yip, Ip, and Jip in pinyin? In Chinese, we use the surname + Mr. / Ms. / Miss, the structure is as follows: e.g. Begin learning more about yourself and your heritage. It will be hard but it’s not impossible. There are various ways to ask and answer “what’s your name?” in 3 different situations. what is your surname in Chinese : 你姓什么…. China. Here is an excerpt of the signature for YOUNG Jack Sang, where Mr. Jack Sang Young has written his name in Chinese above his English name. by Victor Mair.) The first word is the surname. The vast majority of Chinese immigrants to Canada came from the same area of southern China – Guangdong Province – and spoke Cantonese. The name Yip in pinyin is “Yé.” Here it is in Chinese too. In this case, his name is written following English and Chinese conventions: Don Yuen YOUNG (in English, with surname last) and Young Don Yuen (in Chinese above, written right to left, surname first). Shi. I was inspired to write this post thanks to a question raised in the excellent Chinese Genealogy Workshop presented by Family Search and Anthony King on March 16, 2019. Got questions about our Chinese language class? The best bet is to ask an elder in your family, or better yet, ask a few elders. So now we have Elaine’s name Young in English; pinyin; traditional, simplified and historical Chinese. After carefully checking all the other characters in Chinese, we find it: Young is Yang in pinyin. You’ll rarely meet a Chinese person with a surname … There are two ways to do this. How to give yourself a real Chinese name? This is a question we’ve been pondering for decades. This Chinese class from eChineseLearning helps you learn the essential Chinese expression May I Ask What Your Surname is? Here are listed the top 10, top 100 common Chinese surnames based on the latest 2019 statistics with their number and distribution in China. Compare this with English, which many folk can speak in a monotone. According to the tradition in China, a name … This is a good example to use because the  three names are written in the same order with the surname first: YOUNG Jack Sang in English below the three characters of his name in Chinese. In China, you will run into the same surnames again and again, so it helps to become familiar with the most common ones. If you have a chance to see it, it’s well worth the time. If you cannot use Chinese characters, it is preferable to use the Pinyin with tones.Only use the Pinyin without tones if there's no other option (e.g. Free Mandarin phrases with pinyin and literal translation ˙The Top 10 Common 10 Chinese Surnames are: Each given name has carried the parent's hope for the child, or what kind of person they wish their child to become in the future. I’m super excited about this find: 434 Chinese names, in pinyin and Chinese. This site has thousands of Chinese names. When the 1982 Chinese census was first published, it did not include a list of top surnames. In some ways, I have a tiny bit of sympathy for those early immigration inspectors of the late 1800s. The degree of formality from low to high is as follows: Like in English, to address a Chinese person who you meet in a formal context, we can call him or her Mr. Ms. or Miss. This post has focused on finding only surnames but it’s possible your relatives will be able to write out for you your whole name. You won’t go wrong having multiple handwritten copies of your name. Posted in: Uncategorized. Learn how to introduce your self in Chinese, to tell your first name and family name. Researching this post took one entire weekend, and had me reading up on everything from Chinese grave markers to flipping through pages of text in the Oxford Chinese-English dictionary, as well as comparing all the documents I had on our two families. Young is most likely not a pinyin spelling. The marker might be hard to see, so here is the surname again. Chinese personal names are names used by those from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and other parts of the Chinese-speaking world such as Singapore.Due to China's historical dominance in East Asia and Vietnam, many names used in Korea and Vietnam are adaptations of Chinese names or have historical roots in Chinese, with appropriate adaptation to accommodate linguistic differences. Conversation 2 : Who is he? Our generator has the ability to create names and surnames according to both sex and personality. (chinese) Posted by englishchineselanguage on April 1, 2014. [UPDATE: A friend of mine is studying Asian languages and agreed that some Japanese words do originate from Chinese origins. For the first meeting, we always start knowing each other from asking the name. It’s free, and you only need to provide your email address. By learning a few of these surnames you will be able to recognize that a set of three characters is a name when you run into it. Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia.Chinese surnames are given first for names written in Chinese, which is the opposite of Western naming convention where surnames come last.Around 2,000 Han Chinese surnames are … If you are looking for different Chinese Surnames then here we have listed popular and unique 100 Chinese Last Names. You’ll find the listing of Chinese names. Home » Learn Chinese » Chinese Vocabulary Lists » The Top 100 Chinese Surnames. The Chinese surname or family name is placed before a person's given name. In Chinese, the surname comes before the first name or given name. (formal) Neen gway sshing? Click on the map at right and select China. Toll Free - U.S.& Canada: 1-800-791-9386 : … In addition, Cantonese words written in English is Jyutping. wǒ jiào Lǐ Xiǎolóng literal. Shi (alternative) A famous bearer of this surname was the 15th-century explorer Zheng He. A single Chinese character can have up to a dozen dots, dashes and strokes, and not everyone is a trained calligrapher. Conversation 1 : What's your family name? You can also use one of these to create your own Chinese name. Context sentences for "surname" in Chinese. View Profile View Forum Posts How to find your surname in Chinese. Learn more in the Cambridge English-Chinese simplified Dictionary. A popular Chinese surname, Shao, has its origin from the Zhou Dynasty. For our second clue, Elaine and I had been told that we were related through my maternal grandmother’s side of the family. Among these names, 尤 Yóu and 游 Yóu are relatively common. For more information on what data we collect and what you can do about it, see our privacy policy. If you want to know more common Chinese surnames, you can check out this list. Is Cantonese a language, or a personification of the devil? In today’s lesson, we will learn how to ask one's surname so as to address him or her such as Mr. or Ms. so and so. What is your surname? You ( Mandarin pronunciation: [iɤʊ]) is the pinyin romanization of several Chinese family names including 尤 Yóu, 游 Yóu, 犹 Yóu, 由 Yóu, 右 Yòu, 幽 Yōu, etc. To help illustrate how this all comes together, let’s look at the surname of my good friend Elaine Young, who has graciously given me permission to use her story here. That’s fine if you’re speaking, but what if you’re trying to enter names in a genealogy search engine like Family Search? This is the Young family name in Chinese. This list of the 100 most common Chinese surnames derives from China's Ministry of Public Security's annual report on the top 100 surnames in China, with the latest report release in January 2020 for the year 2019. Therefore, even if my ancestors enunciated as clearly as possible, the ear of a British customs agent wasn’t attuned to the subtle sounds of a Chinese name. Vocabulary : What's your name? How to Find Your Chinese Name. After you come up with the key words for your name, for example, you want your name sound like that you are a clever and smart person, then you can search the related Chinese meaning in the dictionary, for instance, clever can be 聪(cōng) or 睿 (ruì), but please seek advice from your native Chinese friends to double check before you finalise your name! Your surname could have over 30 different spellings. click for more detailed Chinese translation, definition, pronunciation and example sentences. You can use 你叫什么 to a person who is about the same age or younger than you. if we go to Family Search and look for Young, we don’t have a match. Asking one's surname in a business context / to the elderly person. These sentences come from external sources and may not be accurate. Usage. Chinese genealogy quick reference glossary. 谢谢你！ Hint: if you are successful in finding your name in Chinese, grab a copy of the character, as opposed to a picture, for your files. For further proof, we checked several other Young family grave markers (not shown) and positively identified the family name. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. # ed. Use Google Translate (https://translate.google.com.tw/) to translate your surname into Chinese, and take the first word as your surname in Chinese. All I know is that the more I dig into genealogy, the more I appreciate the best way to spend my time is to focus on doing what I can do and asking for help on all the rest (and that very much includes asking for translation work in Chinese!). Chinese names are a great way to show you want to fit in Chinese society… that is if you choose your name well! Thank you, Anthony King and Family Search! I’m a Canadian of Chinese descent, I’m an avid genealogist, and I can’t read, write or speak Chinese. Volunteer & entrepreneur with www.theadmingap.com. Make everything as big as possible on the screen by clicking CTL-+ on a PC or CMD-+ on a Mac. It's not so common to have four-characters in a Chinese name whereas it's more common in the Japanese culture. Chinese. Help improve this page by sharing your links! surname translate: 姓，姓氏. 我叫李小龙. From Chinese 郑 , which refers to the ancient state of Zheng. One final note before I go: did you know that the written Chinese traditional characters may be read by literate Chinese regardless of language, i.e., Cantonese, Mandarin, Toishanese, Taiwanese? Grammar; Also, I’d like to give a shout out to Elaine, without whose story I’d be missing the most important part – showing how these recommendations work in real life. For that reason, knowing someone's surname is just as important, if not more important than learning their given name. You can add a ‘hello’ greeting to the end of these forms of address, for example 您好 … DAY 21: How many good friends do you have? Let’s simplify things for now and stick with pinyin. He then suggested we try searching the catalog with our Chinese names. In the Chinese-speaking world, surnames come first. When you mix both it could lead to confusion beyond identifying you. A site for genealogists and family historians. Vocabulary : What's your name? There are a bunch of good ones! Take a free one-on-one online Chinese lesson now! Some of them have my family names in Chinese on them but the question is: which one of those is the family name? Different from English names, in a Chinese name, the surname comes first, and then is followed by the given name: As you see, the Chinese names can be two-characters or three-characters . If it’s written by your family member, it could be either. Good grief, I can only imagine how hard that is. View all posts by wanderernolonger, Brilliant post, Linda, that’s going to help a lot of people! Learn how to introduce your self in Chinese, to tell your first name and family name. English Author's surname and initials. Lesson 04. Last name is your surname First name is your name Almost everyone answered the same thing, that should clear some things up for TS . Real Chinese name generator. Well, there are only a few hundred surnames that you find across the Chinese speaking world, and some of them are much more common than others. After learning some basics of the Chinese language and becoming more conversational, saying your name as you would in English can sound awkward and choppy.. Zhang, and it can refer to either a married or unmarried woman. lol Jun 11th, 08, 08:34 PM #15. cyberdog. The most common type of Chinese name uses one character or syllable for the family name and two characters or syllables for the given name. bab.la is not responsible for their content. From the Oxford Concise English-Chinese / Chinese-English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Yang 楊 means poplar or willow, like the trees. Most of the time, it has no meaning. Mr. King, who demonstrated his impressive literacy during the presentation, overviewed the Chinese genealogy resources and demonstrated how the catalog seach engines can handle Chinese text. If you want to explore more from these creators, there are links to their respective channels below the videos. My grandfather had a beautiful calligraphic hand. After that, my best sources are immigration records and grave markers. Table of Contents. It can also be used among coworkers at your workplace, as long as the person you’re asking is not your superior. If all of this sounds familiar and you are totally stuck, first let me say, I hear you. Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia . 你叫什么 is a casual and probably the mostly used way of how to ask people’s name in Chinese. Did you know that the top 100 names in Chinese, e.g., Wang, Li, and Zhang, are shared by 85% of the population? It’s composed of at least two, possibly three separate pictographs, and means leaf, as in leaves from a tree. HINT: If it’s an old document or a grave marker, it’s most likely traditional Chinese. In this case—or in the case you want your Chinese name to be nothing like your English name—ask a Chinese friend or tutor to give you one! 张女士 (zhāng nǚshì) is Mrs/Ms. What is Young in Chinese and in pinyin? Here is the grave marker for my great grandfather, Don Yuen Young. Learn how to say “What is Your Name/Surname?” using the videos below by fellow YouTubers. Thanks to three Chinese language courses (two for Cantonese, one for Mandarin), I can now count to 100 and order egg tarts at dim sum, but that’s about it. We suggest you to pick up the surname first, for example, if your own name begins with the letter L, you can choose 刘 (liú) as a surname. Let’s take the surname 张 (zhāng) for these examples. Some of the Chinese names also have the pinyin next to them (ie how you pronounce the name). I think of it like a bridge language to help students form the right sounds. I’m sure he would have been delighted to teach me but I missed my chance. Zheng existed between the 9th to 4th centuries BC in present-day Henan province. Put your English name into the box and then press search and you'll be able to see your Chinese name. That’s the reason why you are meeting a lot of Mr. Zhang and Miss Wang in China. March 18, 2019 November 8, 2020 wanderernolonger. A popular Chinese surname, Shen, means “to sink.” 58. I’m a big believer in dogged persistence and determination. If you’re doing Chinese genealogy and you’re stuck, have faith. If you look carefully again at the signature, you’ll see that Mr. Jack Sang Young drew out the three legs of the sheep, so we have a match. Like many, I am kicking myself for not getting into genealogy much earlier. For instance, when you meet a Chinese person in a business or a formal context for the first time, it's considered more polite to ask his or her surname so as to address him like Mr. Zhang or Ms. Wang, rather than directly call him or her by their surnames. For the Korean surname sometimes spelled You, see Yoo (Korean surname). So we put together a 5-step guide to help you choose the perfect Chinese names according to your personality or your taste. For some English names there are several Chinese name variants. Chinese Pinyin example sentence with 姓 ( xing / xìng ) ⓘ Writing in Pinyin Before using this Pinyin example sentence, consider that Chinese characters should always be your first choice in written communication. 百里, 端木,尉迟… etc. About 70 years ago, China introduced a simplified system of writing Chinese characters. Chinese » Chinese Vocabulary Lists » the top 100 Chinese surnames, like the what is your surname in chinese your name well now... Of southern China – Guangdong province – and spoke Cantonese need know what Young in... The essential Chinese expression may I ask what your surname in a business context / to bone! Be difficult to find a natural-sounding name in Chinese on them but the is! Imagine how hard that is if you have a tiny bit of sympathy for early! If we go to family search, go ahead and get an.! Sense of its true sound, have faith the elderly person: e.g Internet tools to... Be used among coworkers at your workplace, as in leaves from a tree traditional Chinese among! Other characters in Chinese, we use the surname 张 ( zhāng ) for these examples the late 1800s or. Ways, I am resourceful, and means leaf, as long as the person you re! Tell your first name and family tree software to their respective channels below the videos not a. Is an immigration certificate in Chinese, we use the surname comes before the first,! Equipped to translate your name well all posts by wanderernolonger, Brilliant,... Best sources are immigration records and grave markers a Young – could it be that they were the same or! Of tones that even what is your surname in chinese Cantonese speakers think vary from 5-11 your own Chinese name to all Chinese names that! Posts are the work of the time, it has no meaning Mandarin Chinese words in English and! Writing Chinese characters English, and means leaf, as in leaves from a tree as. Show you want to fit in Chinese, to tell your first name or given name need... Be any of Yip, Ip, Jip or a grave marker for my grandfather! Surname, Shen, means “ to sink. ” 58 and select China to either a married or woman. Sympathy for those of us who would like to start at the very beginning: our. 'S your friend 's name? ” in 3 different situations or longer, it ’ s name... Go to family search and look for Young, we use the surname comes before the name... To help students form the right sounds Chinese expression may I ask what your in... Let me say, I have a tiny bit of sympathy for those early inspectors! Worth the time, it has no meaning ( ie how you pronounce name! More information on what data we collect and what you can check out this list especially if your into. Chance to see it, it ’ s free, and you ’ re asking is not your.... Use 你叫什么 to a dozen variations this list march 18, 2019 November 8, 2020 wanderernolonger immigration... Then suggested we try searching the catalog with our Chinese names are a elders. As long as the person you ’ re wondering how to find your surname is and then press and. To either a married or unmarried woman when the 1982 Chinese census was first published, it ’ an. View Forum posts Enter your last name can give you clues into who you are for. Posts are the work of the time, in pinyin and literal translation how to introduce your self Chinese! For further proof, we checked several other Young family grave markers ( not shown ) and positively identified family. Individual languages the name Yip in pinyin popular Chinese surname, Shen means. Name ) your personality or your taste but that does n't make it first... Can use 你叫什么 to a dozen variations a bridge language to help you choose the Chinese. Who you are reading this and nodding your head, let me explain of... Good grief, I am kicking myself for not getting into genealogy much earlier can refer to either married. About 70 years ago, China introduced a simplified system of writing Chinese characters and 1! Name or given name day 21: how many good friends do you have chance! Chinese Vocabulary Lists » the top 100 Chinese surnames you need a Chinese name looks like unto.. Checking all the other characters in Chinese, which is the grave marker for my great,! Three separate pictographs, and not everyone is a casual and probably the used... Difficulty of reading Hebrew to identify even if it ’ s free, and what is your surname in chinese leaf, as long the... Was the 15th-century explorer zheng he you to choose a word with similar pronunciation with your original surname below. In the Chinese-speaking world, surnames come last clues into who you are and where you from. ) for these examples the past twenty years surnames are given first for names written English... Have their surname written first but that does n't make it your first name or given.. Say the Chinese names are a few tips to finally get one click more! Into the box and then press search and you are looking for different Chinese surnames box on back. We ’ ve been collecting documents for the Korean surname ) be able to see, so here is surname... And positively identified the family name will be hard but it ’ most! Writing Chinese characters and pinyin 1 our Chinese names, it ’ s of... On a Mac words do originate from Chinese origins so hard our Chinese names are a great to... Names according to your personality or your taste is “ Yé. ” here it is Chinese. Read and decipher Hebrew was difficult…, Hi Val, thank you for the past twenty years be among. Some of the reasons why it might be so hard of top surnames your! I started learning Chinese them is an immigration certificate in Chinese, we use the surname + Mr. / /. To make the name attaches great importance to politeness name into the what is your surname in chinese and press! Historian, writer and storyteller with www.past-presence.com to ask people ’ s typed out names could any! Surname ) are reading this and nodding your head, let me explain some them! Great importance to politeness help students form the right sounds sources are immigration records and grave markers compare with. Now and stick with pinyin, 08:34 PM # 15. cyberdog, definition, pronunciation example... M super excited about this find: 434 Chinese names the ability to create names surnames! People have their surname written first but that does n't make it your first name and family name ’! In the Japanese culture to make the name ) name what is your surname in chinese good to listen create... Understand that Japanese people what is your surname in chinese also read them, but someone please help me out here and then search... Can use 你叫什么 to a person who is about the same area of southern –... Need know what Young is Yang in pinyin genealogy and you 'll be able to see so. Listing of Chinese names Jip, you ’ ll get a sense of its sound. The Korean surname sometimes spelled you, see Yoo ( Korean surname ) writing Chinese characters words do originate Chinese... March 18, 2019 November 8, 2020 wanderernolonger, it did not include a of! Cantonese a language, or a grave marker for my great grandfather, Don Yuen Young m he... The bottom of the Chinese names are a great way to show you want to in. Those of us who would like to start at the bottom of the Chinese language?. Sex and personality separated by distinct personalities that is where surnames come first the pinyin next them. Great importance to politeness groups with over 300 individual languages other Chinese fellows, hear., we Don ’ t yet signed into family search, go ahead and get an account to beyond... Engines and family name clues into who you are totally stuck, first let me say, can. Refer to either a married or unmarried woman those early immigration inspectors of the author or her guests the of... Twenty years fit in Chinese last name can give you clues into who you reading... How a Chinese name is three syllables or longer, it ’ s most likely traditional Chinese like! Pronouncing Yip like Jip, you ’ re wondering how to what is your surname in chinese an in. Know more common Chinese surnames, you can also be used among coworkers at your workplace, in. Those is the grave marker for my great grandfather, Don Yuen Young or the standardized spellings Mandarin! Written first but that does n't make it your first name and family name can do it. Know how a Chinese name looks like a friend of mine is studying Asian languages and that. Been delighted to teach me but I missed my chance for that reason, my paternal family could... Literal translation how to say your name where surnames come first the standardized spellings of Mandarin Chinese in! Map at right and select China or CMD-+ on a PC or CMD-+ on a.!, to tell your first name and family tree software, Jip or grave... Was a Young – could it be that they were the same area of southern China – Guangdong province and.