{"id":1612,"date":"2021-11-22T17:43:23","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T09:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=1612"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:50:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:50:56","slug":"chinese-pokemon-names","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/chinese-pokemon-names\/","title":{"rendered":"Pokemon Reimagined: Understanding Chinese Pokemon Names"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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We all know them, we all love them!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pokemons are all the same internationally. Right? The legendary games and anime series have been a global success and it is almost impossible to have never heard of this Japanese franchise. The name \u201cPok\u00e9mon\u201d is actually a shortcut for \u201cPocket Monster\u201d (jap. \u30dd\u30b1\u30c3\u30c8\u30e2\u30f3\u30b9\u30bf\u30fc Poketto Monsut\u0101<\/em>) and the main plot of the games, films and anime series deals with collecting little magic creatures. Pokemons can have various shapes and sizes and they live in the wild or among humans. However, since the Japanese games became a global hit, the little monsters\u2019 names had to be translated into different languages, which is why they often sound completely different in every country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, how many Pokemons are there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are over 800 species of Pok\u00e9mon, which can be categorized into different types, such as Fire, Psychic, Poison and many others. The amount of different Pokemons is constantly growing, since there are new kinds added with new games released. As species, they are listed in the National Pok\u00e9dex<\/a>, and each one of them has an assigned number, type and combat statistics. Over 800 little creatures! As you can see, it would be impossible to list them all in this article. Instead, let\u2019s just focus on the most popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pokemons in China<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needless to say, Pokemons are very popular in China, as well as in other areas Chinese-speaking areas such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. Here, however, we encounter the very first problem when it comes to Chinese Pokemon names. Depending if you are in China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, the names of the Pokemons may differ. What is more, even the name of the franchise itself \u2013 Pok\u00e9mon \u2013 used to be different in all these three places! In Hong Kong, people are used to the name \u5bf5\u7269\u5c0f\u7cbe\u9748 (Cantonese: cung2 mat6 siu2 zing1 ling4), in Taiwan the little magic creatures were called \u795e\u5947\u5bf6\u8c9d (sh\u00e9nq\u012b b\u01ceob\u00e8i), meanwhile in China Pokemons are known as \u5b9d\u53ef\u68a6 (b\u01ceok\u011bm\u00e8ng), which resembles the original pronunciation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, since 2016, The Pok\u00e9mon Company intended to standardize the name, so it introduced a new term: \u7cbe\u7075\u5b9d\u53ef\u68a6\/\u7cbe\u9748\u5bf6\u53ef\u5922 (j\u012bngl\u00edng b\u01ceok\u011bm\u00e8ng), as well as unified some of Pokemons’ names. Despite these changes, don\u2019t be surprised if you encounter different Pokemon names online since it may depend on the origin of the website. Actually, the Pokemon names are still a source of controversy, especially in Hong Kong: in 2016, a group of young people even protested the changes at the Japanese embassy, claiming that they disrespect the Cantonese language (photo).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Popular Pokemons in Chinese<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving politics aside, let\u2019s check out how some of the most popular Pokemons are named in Chinese, and some other related vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Pikachu – \u76ae\u5361\u4e18 P\u00edk\u01ceqi\u016b<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    The little yellow Pokemon with a thunder-shaped tail and electric power is the very symbol of the franchise worldwide and the most recognizable Pokemon. It was the very first Pokemon of Ash, which is the main character of the Pokemon anime. His Chinese name is \u5c0f\u667a(xi\u01ceozh\u00ec), which actually means someone silly or witless (\u5c0f means little, \u667a means wisdom, wit). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Actually, the name of this Pokemon was also a subject of controversy in Hong Kong: when its name became standardized to \u76ae\u5361\u4e18, Hong Kong users were displeased, since they were used to calling it \u6bd4\u5361\u8d85 (bei2 kaa1 ciu1).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    2. Charizard – \u55b7\u706b\u9f99 P\u0113nhu\u01d2l\u00f3ng<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Voted the most favorite Pokemon in a massive Reddit survey<\/a>, Charizard is a dragon-like Pokemon that breathes fire at its opponents. His type (\u5c5e\u6027 sh\u01d4x\u00ecng) is Fire (\u706bhu\u01d2) and Flying (\u98de\u884c f\u0113ix\u00edng).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    3. Gengar – \u803f\u9b3c G\u011bnggu\u01d0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another fan-favorite Pokemon. It is \u5e7d\u7075 (y\u014dul\u00edng – Ghost) \u5c5e\u6027and \u6bd2 (d\u00fa – Poison) \u5c5e\u6027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    4. Arcanine – \u98a8\u901f\u72d7 F\u0113ngs\u00f9g\u01d2u<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Arcanine is famous for its fast speed. Its Chinese name literally means \u201ca wind-fast dog\u201d. It\u2019s a fire pokemon: \u706b\u5c5e\u6027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    5. Bulbasaur – \u5999\u86d9\u7a2e\u5b50 Mi\u00e0ow\u0101zh\u01d2ngz\u01d0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Bulbasaur is among the oldest Pokemons and it is number one in the National Pok\u00e9dex (\u5b9d\u53ef\u68a6\u5217\u8868 b\u01ceok\u011bm\u00e8ng li\u00e8bi\u01ceo). It is \u8349 (c\u01ceo – Grass) \u5c5e\u6027and \u6bd2\u5c5e\u6027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    6. Blaziken – \u706b\u7130\u9e21 Hu\u01d2y\u00e0nj\u012b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This courageous Pokemon\u2019s Chinese name literally means \u201cflame chicken\u201d. Its \u706b\u5c5e\u6027 and \u683c\u6597 (g\u00e9d\u00f2u – Fighting) \u5c5e\u6027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    7. Umbreon – \u6708\u4eae\u4f0a\u5e03 Yu\u00e8li\u00e0ngy\u012bb\u00f9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Umbreon is a sly Pokemon that likes to await its foes in the darkness. It evolved as a result of exposure to the moon\u2019s waves, hence its name in Chinese: \u6708\u4eae yu\u00e8li\u00e0ng means \u201cmoonlight\u201d. It is \u6076 (\u00e8 \u2013 evil, in Pokemon universe translated as \u201cDark\u201d) \u5c5e\u6027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    8. Raichu \u2013 \u96f7\u4e18 L\u00e9iqi\u00fa<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Raichu is a cute evolved form of Pikachu. Just as his \u201colder brother\u201d, Raichu possesses electric powers, what makes him a \u7535 (di\u00e0n \u2013 Electric) \u5c5e\u6027 Pokemon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    9. Gardevoir – \u6c99\u5948\u6735 Sh\u0101n\u00e0idu\u01d2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Gardevoir has the ability to read the future and uses its psychokinetic energy in combat. It is \u8d85\u80fd\u529b (ch\u0101on\u00e9ngl\u00ec \u2013 Psychic) \u5c5e\u6027and \u5996\u7cbe (y\u0101oj\u012bng- Fairy) \u5c5e\u6027.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    10. Eevee – \u4f0a\u5e03 Y\u012bb\u00f9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This beautiful Pokemon is capable of mutating the environment in which it lives. Its type is Normal: \u4e00\u822c (y\u012bb\u0101n) \u5c5e\u6027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Interested in more vocabulary in Chinese? In Maayot<\/a> we can help you with that. Check out some of our articles below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n