Chinese name facts for kids

Chinese names (Chinese: 姓名; pinyin: xìngmíng) are the names people use in Chinese-speaking places. They are mostly used by Chinese people. But some Korean people and Vietnamese people also use names that are similar to Chinese names.

Modern Chinese names have two main parts. First is the family name, also called a surname. Second is the personal name. The family name always comes before the personal name. This is different from how names work in many other countries.

How Chinese Names Work

In China today, a person's name is usually made up of two parts. The first part is the family name. The second part is the personal name.

Family Names

The family name is called xìng (姓). It usually has only one syllable. This means it is written with just one Chinese character. For example, "Zhang" (张) is a very common family name.

Personal Names

The personal name is called míng (名). It comes after the family name. A personal name almost always has one or two syllables. So, it is written with one or two Chinese characters.

Putting Names Together

When you put them together, a Chinese name usually has two or three characters. For example, a person with the family name Zhang (张) and the personal name Wei (伟) is called "Zhang Wei". It is written as 张伟.

Older Names: Courtesy Names

Before the 1900s, educated Chinese people sometimes used another name. This was called a "courtesy name" or "style name" (zì 字). People outside their close family and friends would use this name. It was a way to show respect.

Images for kids

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  The signature of Sun Yat-sen. When Chinese people live or travel abroad, they sometimes change their name order to match local customs.

See also

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  A robot for kids
  In Spanish: Onomástica china para niños