{"id":585,"date":"2020-09-11T02:46:18","date_gmt":"2020-09-10T18:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=585"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:45:41","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:45:41","slug":"how-to-get-a-chinese-nickname","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/how-to-get-a-chinese-nickname\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fun Art of Creating and Using Chinese Nicknames"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Want to get a Chinese nickname for yourself<\/strong>? Do you know how Chinese people give a nickname for their kids<\/strong>, colleagues<\/strong>, friends<\/strong> or spouse<\/strong>? What do you need to avoid<\/strong> when getting a Chinese nickname?

Some examples of Chinese nicknames (\u6635\u79f0, n\u00ec ch\u0113ng)<\/strong> are shown below. They are categorised by different types of people \u2013 kids, colleagues, close friends, boyfriend\/girlfriend, old men and foreigners<\/strong>. Chinese nicknames are often short with 2 or 3 characters and easy to pronounce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

nickname (\u6635\u79f0, n\u00ec ch\u0113ng)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
1. Chinese nicknames for kids<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kids\u2019 nickname is called \u201c\u5c0f\u540d<\/strong>\u201d (xi\u01ceo m\u00edng<\/strong>) or \u201c\u4e73\u540d<\/strong>\u201d (r\u01d4 m\u00edng<\/strong>). Most of the Chinese nicknames for kids imply good wishes (\u7f8e\u597d\u7684\u5bd3\u610f, m\u011bi h\u01ceo de y\u00f9 y\u00ec)<\/strong>. Nowadays, younger Chinese parents around 20s to 30s love giving their kids nickname related to fruits, snacks or drinks, since they think these types of nicknames are cute. The nickname using repeating characters (called \u201c\u53e0\u8bcd<\/strong>\u201d, di\u00e9 c\u00ed<\/strong>) or starting with the character \u201c\u5c0f<\/strong>\u201d (xi\u01ceo<\/strong>) are also popular in China. Some Chinese people are also using the nickname ending with \u201c\u513f<\/strong>\u201d (er<\/strong>) or starting with \u201c\u963f<\/strong>\u201d (**\u0101<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Examples 1.1 \u2013 related to food (<\/strong>\u98df\u7269<\/strong>**, sh\u00ed w\u00f9):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8461\u8404 (p\u00fa tao, grape \u2013 cute and sweet, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u6a59\u5b50 (ch\u00e9ng zi, orange \u2013 cute and sweet, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7cef\u7c73 (nu\u00f2 m\u01d0, glutinous rice \u2013 wish a wonderful life for your kid, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u96ea\u7cd5 (k\u011b l\u00e8, ice cream\u2013 cute and sweet, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u53ef\u4e50 (k\u011b l\u00e8, coke \u2013 cute and sweet, for girls or boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Examples 1.2 \u2013 using repeating characters (<\/strong>\u201c\u53e0\u8bcd<\/strong>\u201d, **di\u00e9 c\u00ed):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7b11\u7b11 (xi\u00e0o xiao, smile \/ laugh \u2013 wish happiness, for girls or boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u98de\u98de (f\u0113i f\u0113i, flying \u2013 wish a good fortune, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7403\u7403 (qi\u00fa qiu, ball \u2013 wish happiness, for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u742a\u742a (q\u00ed qi, a kind of beautiful jade \u2013 it also means precious, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5947\u5947 (q\u00ed qi, means precious or outstanding, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Examples 1.3 \u2013 starting with “\u5c0f\u201d (xi\u01ceo):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5e0c (xi\u01ceo x\u012b, precious\/hope, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5173 (xi\u01ceo gu\u0101n, a lovely name for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5b87 (xi\u01ceo y\u01d4, a gentleman with good manner, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u65ed (xi\u01ceo x\u00f9, sunrise, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5b9b (xi\u01ceo w\u01cen, melodious\/gentle, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Examples 1.4 \u2013 ending with \u201c<\/strong>\u513f<\/strong>**\u201d (er):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u661f\u513f (x\u012bng er, star \u2013 shining, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u6708\u513f (yu\u00e8 er, moon, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7075\u513f (l\u00edng er, intelligence, usually for girls) <\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u51cc\u513f (l\u00edng er, rise, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7115\u513f (hu\u00e0n er, bright, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Examples 1.5 \u2013 starting with \u201c<\/strong>\u963f<\/strong>**\u201d (\u0101):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u66fc (p\u00fa tao, graceful, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u73b2 (\u0101 l\u00edng, melodious tinkling of pieces of jade, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u679c (\u0101 gu\u01d2, means fruit, wish a good fortune, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u6cfd (\u0101 z\u00e9, dew\/favour, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u8fb0 (\u0101 ch\u00e9n, morning, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
In addition, many parents get their kid\u2019s second name done first, then **derive the nickname from the second name <\/strong>(with using one of the rules above).<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Examples 1.6 \u2013 derived from second name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u9648\u679c (ch\u00e9n gu\u01d2), Nickname: \u679c\u679c (gu\u01d2 guo)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u5218\u8bd7\u9896 (li\u00fa sh\u012b y\u01d0ng), Nickname: \u9896\u513f (y\u01d0ng er)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u5468\u5b87\u98de (zh\u014du y\u01d4 f\u0113i), Nickname: \u98de\u98de (f\u0113i f\u0113i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u5434\u8fb0\u6d69 (w\u00fa ch\u00e9n h\u00e0o), Nickname: \u963f\u8fb0 (ch\u00e9n chen)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u8d75\u7490 (zh\u00e0o l\u00f9), Nickname: \u5c0f\u7490 (xi\u01ceo l\u00f9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**(The first characters in the full names above are the Chinese family names, the remainders in these full names are second names.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
2. Chinese nicknames for colleagues<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We often use nicknames between colleagues to be more friendly or closer<\/strong> (\u4eb2\u5207, q\u012bn qi\u00e8<\/strong>). Also, nicknames are usually short so easy to memorise<\/strong> (**\u597d\u8bb0, h\u01ceo j\u00ec<\/strong>). You can use Chinese nickname only with the colleagues having a similar title as yours, but not with your boss or elder people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Example 2.1 \u2013 \u201c<\/strong>\u5c0f<\/strong>\u201d (<\/strong>xi\u01ceo<\/strong>) + first name<\/strong>**<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**For example, \u9648\u8096 (ch\u00e9n xi\u0101o) is your colleague, you may call him \u201c\u5c0f\u9648\u201d (xi\u01ceo ch\u00e9n) as a nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Another case could be **[\u201c\u5c0f\u201d (xi\u01ceo) + one of the characters in the second name]<\/strong> if there are two colleagues have the same first name OR the first name with similar pronunciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
With using the example above, there is another colleague named \u201c\u7a0b\u51ac\u9732\u201d (ch\u00e9ng d\u014dng l\u00f9), so you might call \u9648\u8096as \u201c\u5c0f\u8096\u201d (xi\u01ceo xi\u0101o), and \u7a0b\u51ac\u9732 as \u201c\u5c0f\u51ac\u201d (xi\u01ceo d\u014dng) or \u201c\u5c0f\u9732\u201d (xi\u01ceo l\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Example 2.2 \u2013 \u201c\u963f\u201d (\u0101) + one of the characters in the second name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Still using the example above, \u9648\u8096can be called as \u201c\u963f\u8096\u201d (\u0101 xi\u0101o) and \u7a0b\u51ac\u9732 can be called as \u201c\u963f\u51ac\u201d (\u0101 d\u014dng).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Chinese nicknames for close friends<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can give a nickname to your close Chinese friend by deriving it from his\/her hobbies<\/strong> or characteristics<\/strong>, an interesting thing<\/strong> related to him\/her, or **a cute thing having a similar pronunciation<\/strong> to his\/her original name. Just be creative and have fun with your friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For example, if your close friend\u2019s full name is \u9f99\u8bed\u9633 (l\u00f3ng y\u01d4 y\u00e1ng), you can call her \u201c\u5c0f\u7b3c\u5305\u201d (xi\u01ceo l\u00f3ng b\u0101o, steamed bun \u2013 a traditional Chinese food) where contains a similar pronunciation of \u201cl\u00f3ng\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Chinese nicknames for boyfriend\/girlfriend<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you want to give a Chinese nickname to your boyfriend\/girlfriend, you can use the previous nickname rule (for close friends)<\/strong> as well. To express your love, you may want to call your spouse more romantic<\/strong> [\u6d6a\u6f2b<\/strong> (l\u00e0ng m\u00e0n<\/strong>) or \u8089\u9ebb<\/strong> (**r\u00f2u m\u00e1<\/strong>)], like honey, sweetie or babe. Some common examples are shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
**4.1 Examples \u2013 for boyfriend or girlfriend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u4eb2\u7231\u7684 (q\u012bn \u00e0i de)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5b9d\u5b9d (b\u01ceo bao)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5b9d\u8d1d\u513f (b\u01ceo b\u00e8ir)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7b28\u86cb (b\u00e8n d\u00e0n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u50bb\u74dc (sh\u01ce gua)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u53ef\u7231 (xi\u01ceo k\u011b \u00e0i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**4.2 Examples \u2013 for boyfriend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8001\u516c (l\u01ceo g\u014dng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u54e5\u54e5 (g\u0113 ge)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**4.2 Examples \u2013 for girlfriend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8001\u5a46 (l\u01ceo p\u00f3; l\u01ceo pao)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8001\u5a46\u5927\u4eba (l\u01ceo p\u00f3 d\u00e0 r\u00e9n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5ab3\u5987\u513f (x\u00ed f\u00f9r)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
5. Chinese nicknames for elde<\/span><\/strong>r<\/strong>ly<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Elderly may call each other [\u201c\u8001\u201d (l\u01ceo) + first name]<\/strong> if they are good friends. For example, \u9648\u8096 (ch\u00e9n xi\u0101o) is your old friend, you may call him \u201c\u8001\u9648\u201d (l\u01ceo ch\u00e9n) as a nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Another case could be [\u201c\u8001\u201d (l\u01ceo) + one of the characters in the second name]<\/strong> if there are two elder people that have the same first name OR the first name with similar pronunciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the example above, there is another elderly named \u201c\u7a0b\u51ac\u9732\u201d (ch\u00e9ng d\u014dng l\u00f9), so you might call \u9648\u8096as \u201c\u8001\u8096\u201d (l\u01ceo xi\u0101o), and \u7a0b\u51ac\u9732 as \u201c\u8001\u51ac\u201d (l\u01ceo d\u014dng) or \u201c\u8001\u9732\u201d (l\u01ceo l\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Chinese nicknames for foreigners<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first option can be the variation from your original name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Examples \u2013 derived from your original name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
If your name is Mike, it can be transliterated as \u201c\u8fc8\u514b\u201d (m\u00e0i k\u00e8). However, Chinese people are not used to calling this kind of transliterated names. So you would better use the rules above and you can introduce yourself like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**\u6211\u82f1\u6587\u540d\u53eb\u505aMike,\u4f60\u53ef\u4ee5\u53eb\u6211\u201c\u5c0f\u8fc8\u201d\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**w\u01d2 y\u012bng w\u00e9n m\u00edng ji\u00e0o zu\u00f2 Mike,n\u01d0 k\u011b y\u01d0 ji\u00e0o w\u01d2 \u201cxi\u01ceo m\u00e0i \u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Translation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**My English name is Mike. You can just call me Xiaomai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
More examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Male:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Charles \u2013 \u5c0f\u8336(ch\u00e1)\/\u5c0f\u67e5(ch\u00e1)\/\u5c0f\u793c(l\u01d0)\/\u5c0f\u9ece(l\u00ed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**David \u2013 \u5c0f\u5cb1(d\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u7ef4(w\u00e9i)\/\u5c0f\u709c(w\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**James \u2013 \u5c0f\u6770(ji\u00e9)\/\u5c0f\u5c16(ji\u0101n)\/\u5c0f\u5251(ji\u00e0n)\/\u5c0f\u5065(ji\u00e0n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Liam \u2013 \u5c0f\u9ece(l\u00ed)\/\u5c0f\u793c(l\u01d0)\/\u5c0f\u5b89(\u0101n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Lucas \u2013 \u5c0f\u9646(l\u00f9)\/\u5c0f\u5361(k\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Michael \u2013 \u5c0f\u8fc8(m\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u67ef(k\u0113)\/\u5c0f\u73c2(k\u0113)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Oliver \u2013 \u5c0f\u6b27(\u014du)\/\u5c0f\u9ece(l\u00ed)\/\u5c0f\u793c(l\u01d0)\/\u5c0f\u98de(f\u0113i)\/\u5c0f\u5cf0(f\u0113ng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Robert \u2013 \u5c0f\u6d1b(lu\u00f2)\/\u5c0f\u5317(b\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Thomas \u2013 \u5c0f\u5929(ti\u0101n)\/\u5c0f\u6d9b(t\u0101o)\/\u5c0f\u5ef7(t\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u9a6c(m\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**William \u2013 \u5c0f\u709c(w\u011bi)\/\u5c0f\u7ef4(w\u00e9i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Female:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Ava \u2013 \u5c0f\u827e(\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u86d9(w\u0101)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Charlotte \u2013 \u5c0f\u590f(xi\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u5e0c(x\u012b)\/\u5c0f\u5915(x\u012b)\/\u5c0f\u7199(x\u012b)\/\u5c0f\u6d1b(lu\u00f2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Elizabeth \u2013 \u5c0f\u827a(y\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u68a8(l\u00ed) \/\u5c0f\u8389(l\u00ec) \/\u5c0f\u6817(l\u00ec) \/\u5c0f\u98d2(s\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u8d1d(b\u00e8i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Emma \u2013 \u5c0f\u827e(\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u9a6c(m\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Isabella \u2013 \u5c0f\u827a(y\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u98d2(s\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u8d1d(b\u00e8i)\/\u5c0f\u5317(b\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Jennifer \u2013 \u5c0f\u6d01(ji\u00e9)\/\u5c0f\u5a55(ji\u00e9)\/\u5c0f\u5357(n\u00e1n)\/\u5c0f\u5b81(n\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u82b3(f\u0101ng)\/\u5c0f\u83f2(f\u0113i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Linda \u2013 \u5c0f\u7075(l\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u7433(l\u00edn)\/\u5c0f\u83f1(l\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u73b2(l\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u59b2(d\u00e1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Mary \u2013 \u5c0f\u7f8e(m\u011bi)\/\u5c0f\u6885(m\u00e9i)\/\u5c0f\u9a6c(m\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Olivia \u2013 \u5c0f\u6b27(\u014du)\/\u5c0f\u8389(l\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u6817(l\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u68a8(l\u00ed)\/\u5c0f\u8587(w\u0113i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Rebecca \u2013 \u5c0f\u82ae(ru\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u745e(ru\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u8d1d(b\u00e8i)\/\u5c0f\u5317(b\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Sophia \u2013 \u5c0f\u7410(su\u01d2)\/\u5c0f\u83f2(f\u0113i)\/\u5c0f\u5a05(y\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u96c5(y\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Susan \u2013 \u5c0f\u82cf(s\u016b)\/\u5c0f\u6749(sh\u0101n)\/\u5c0f\u5c71(sh\u0101n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
If your Chinese is excellent or you have some Chinese friends to ask for help, another option can be a derivation from your hobbies<\/strong> or characteristics<\/strong>, an interesting thing<\/strong> related to yourself or **a cute thing having a similar pronunciation<\/strong> to your original name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Last but not least, you would better **double-check if the nickname you have sounds good for Chinese people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
What do you need to avoid when getting a Chinese nickname?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Don’t <\/strong>have a nickname with homophony (\u8c10\u97f3, xi\u00e9 y\u012bn)<\/strong> or **ambiguity (\u6b67\u4e49, q\u00ed y\u00ec)<\/strong>, which may cause people to make fun of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Terrible examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8c22\u8c22(xi\u00e8 xie) cannot be a nickname, as \u201c\u8c22\u8c22\u201d means \u201cthank you\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nowadays, many Chinese nicknames relate to food. But one bad example is \u5c0f\u5403 (xi\u01ceo ch\u012b). \u201c\u5c0f\u5403\u201d means snacks but cannot be a nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Don\u2019t<\/strong> use the Chinese nickname from the last century<\/strong>, like \u72d7\u5269 (g\u01d2u sh\u00e8ng), \u7caa\u86cb (f\u00e8n d\u00e0n) or \u94c1\u67f1 (ti\u011b zh\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it is strongly recommended to **check with a native Chinese speaker<\/strong> unless you have well learned not only ancient but also popular Chinese culture; just like a native.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Chinese learners use…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$\"maayot$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

nickname (\u6635\u79f0, n\u00ec ch\u0113ng)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
1. Chinese nicknames for kids<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kids\u2019 nickname is called \u201c\u5c0f\u540d<\/strong>\u201d (xi\u01ceo m\u00edng<\/strong>) or \u201c\u4e73\u540d<\/strong>\u201d (r\u01d4 m\u00edng<\/strong>). Most of the Chinese nicknames for kids imply good wishes (\u7f8e\u597d\u7684\u5bd3\u610f, m\u011bi h\u01ceo de y\u00f9 y\u00ec)<\/strong>. Nowadays, younger Chinese parents around 20s to 30s love giving their kids nickname related to fruits, snacks or drinks, since they think these types of nicknames are cute. The nickname using repeating characters (called \u201c\u53e0\u8bcd<\/strong>\u201d, di\u00e9 c\u00ed<\/strong>) or starting with the character \u201c\u5c0f<\/strong>\u201d (xi\u01ceo<\/strong>) are also popular in China. Some Chinese people are also using the nickname ending with \u201c\u513f<\/strong>\u201d (er<\/strong>) or starting with \u201c\u963f<\/strong>\u201d (**\u0101<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Examples 1.1 \u2013 related to food (<\/strong>\u98df\u7269<\/strong>**, sh\u00ed w\u00f9):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8461\u8404 (p\u00fa tao, grape \u2013 cute and sweet, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u6a59\u5b50 (ch\u00e9ng zi, orange \u2013 cute and sweet, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7cef\u7c73 (nu\u00f2 m\u01d0, glutinous rice \u2013 wish a wonderful life for your kid, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u96ea\u7cd5 (k\u011b l\u00e8, ice cream\u2013 cute and sweet, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u53ef\u4e50 (k\u011b l\u00e8, coke \u2013 cute and sweet, for girls or boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Examples 1.2 \u2013 using repeating characters (<\/strong>\u201c\u53e0\u8bcd<\/strong>\u201d, **di\u00e9 c\u00ed):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7b11\u7b11 (xi\u00e0o xiao, smile \/ laugh \u2013 wish happiness, for girls or boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u98de\u98de (f\u0113i f\u0113i, flying \u2013 wish a good fortune, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7403\u7403 (qi\u00fa qiu, ball \u2013 wish happiness, for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u742a\u742a (q\u00ed qi, a kind of beautiful jade \u2013 it also means precious, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5947\u5947 (q\u00ed qi, means precious or outstanding, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Examples 1.3 \u2013 starting with “\u5c0f\u201d (xi\u01ceo):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5e0c (xi\u01ceo x\u012b, precious\/hope, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5173 (xi\u01ceo gu\u0101n, a lovely name for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5b87 (xi\u01ceo y\u01d4, a gentleman with good manner, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u65ed (xi\u01ceo x\u00f9, sunrise, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u5b9b (xi\u01ceo w\u01cen, melodious\/gentle, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Examples 1.4 \u2013 ending with \u201c<\/strong>\u513f<\/strong>**\u201d (er):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u661f\u513f (x\u012bng er, star \u2013 shining, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u6708\u513f (yu\u00e8 er, moon, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7075\u513f (l\u00edng er, intelligence, usually for girls) <\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u51cc\u513f (l\u00edng er, rise, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7115\u513f (hu\u00e0n er, bright, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Examples 1.5 \u2013 starting with \u201c<\/strong>\u963f<\/strong>**\u201d (\u0101):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u66fc (p\u00fa tao, graceful, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u73b2 (\u0101 l\u00edng, melodious tinkling of pieces of jade, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u679c (\u0101 gu\u01d2, means fruit, wish a good fortune, usually for girls)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u6cfd (\u0101 z\u00e9, dew\/favour, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u963f\u8fb0 (\u0101 ch\u00e9n, morning, usually for boys)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
In addition, many parents get their kid\u2019s second name done first, then **derive the nickname from the second name <\/strong>(with using one of the rules above).<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Examples 1.6 \u2013 derived from second name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u9648\u679c (ch\u00e9n gu\u01d2), Nickname: \u679c\u679c (gu\u01d2 guo)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u5218\u8bd7\u9896 (li\u00fa sh\u012b y\u01d0ng), Nickname: \u9896\u513f (y\u01d0ng er)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u5468\u5b87\u98de (zh\u014du y\u01d4 f\u0113i), Nickname: \u98de\u98de (f\u0113i f\u0113i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u5434\u8fb0\u6d69 (w\u00fa ch\u00e9n h\u00e0o), Nickname: \u963f\u8fb0 (ch\u00e9n chen)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Full name: \u8d75\u7490 (zh\u00e0o l\u00f9), Nickname: \u5c0f\u7490 (xi\u01ceo l\u00f9)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**(The first characters in the full names above are the Chinese family names, the remainders in these full names are second names.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
2. Chinese nicknames for colleagues<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We often use nicknames between colleagues to be more friendly or closer<\/strong> (\u4eb2\u5207, q\u012bn qi\u00e8<\/strong>). Also, nicknames are usually short so easy to memorise<\/strong> (**\u597d\u8bb0, h\u01ceo j\u00ec<\/strong>). You can use Chinese nickname only with the colleagues having a similar title as yours, but not with your boss or elder people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Example 2.1 \u2013 \u201c<\/strong>\u5c0f<\/strong>\u201d (<\/strong>xi\u01ceo<\/strong>) + first name<\/strong>**<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**For example, \u9648\u8096 (ch\u00e9n xi\u0101o) is your colleague, you may call him \u201c\u5c0f\u9648\u201d (xi\u01ceo ch\u00e9n) as a nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Another case could be **[\u201c\u5c0f\u201d (xi\u01ceo) + one of the characters in the second name]<\/strong> if there are two colleagues have the same first name OR the first name with similar pronunciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
With using the example above, there is another colleague named \u201c\u7a0b\u51ac\u9732\u201d (ch\u00e9ng d\u014dng l\u00f9), so you might call \u9648\u8096as \u201c\u5c0f\u8096\u201d (xi\u01ceo xi\u0101o), and \u7a0b\u51ac\u9732 as \u201c\u5c0f\u51ac\u201d (xi\u01ceo d\u014dng) or \u201c\u5c0f\u9732\u201d (xi\u01ceo l\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Example 2.2 \u2013 \u201c\u963f\u201d (\u0101) + one of the characters in the second name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Still using the example above, \u9648\u8096can be called as \u201c\u963f\u8096\u201d (\u0101 xi\u0101o) and \u7a0b\u51ac\u9732 can be called as \u201c\u963f\u51ac\u201d (\u0101 d\u014dng).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Chinese nicknames for close friends<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can give a nickname to your close Chinese friend by deriving it from his\/her hobbies<\/strong> or characteristics<\/strong>, an interesting thing<\/strong> related to him\/her, or **a cute thing having a similar pronunciation<\/strong> to his\/her original name. Just be creative and have fun with your friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For example, if your close friend\u2019s full name is \u9f99\u8bed\u9633 (l\u00f3ng y\u01d4 y\u00e1ng), you can call her \u201c\u5c0f\u7b3c\u5305\u201d (xi\u01ceo l\u00f3ng b\u0101o, steamed bun \u2013 a traditional Chinese food) where contains a similar pronunciation of \u201cl\u00f3ng\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Chinese nicknames for boyfriend\/girlfriend<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you want to give a Chinese nickname to your boyfriend\/girlfriend, you can use the previous nickname rule (for close friends)<\/strong> as well. To express your love, you may want to call your spouse more romantic<\/strong> [\u6d6a\u6f2b<\/strong> (l\u00e0ng m\u00e0n<\/strong>) or \u8089\u9ebb<\/strong> (**r\u00f2u m\u00e1<\/strong>)], like honey, sweetie or babe. Some common examples are shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
**4.1 Examples \u2013 for boyfriend or girlfriend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u4eb2\u7231\u7684 (q\u012bn \u00e0i de)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5b9d\u5b9d (b\u01ceo bao)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5b9d\u8d1d\u513f (b\u01ceo b\u00e8ir)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u7b28\u86cb (b\u00e8n d\u00e0n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u50bb\u74dc (sh\u01ce gua)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5c0f\u53ef\u7231 (xi\u01ceo k\u011b \u00e0i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**4.2 Examples \u2013 for boyfriend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8001\u516c (l\u01ceo g\u014dng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u54e5\u54e5 (g\u0113 ge)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**4.2 Examples \u2013 for girlfriend<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8001\u5a46 (l\u01ceo p\u00f3; l\u01ceo pao)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8001\u5a46\u5927\u4eba (l\u01ceo p\u00f3 d\u00e0 r\u00e9n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u5ab3\u5987\u513f (x\u00ed f\u00f9r)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
5. Chinese nicknames for elde<\/span><\/strong>r<\/strong>ly<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Elderly may call each other [\u201c\u8001\u201d (l\u01ceo) + first name]<\/strong> if they are good friends. For example, \u9648\u8096 (ch\u00e9n xi\u0101o) is your old friend, you may call him \u201c\u8001\u9648\u201d (l\u01ceo ch\u00e9n) as a nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Another case could be [\u201c\u8001\u201d (l\u01ceo) + one of the characters in the second name]<\/strong> if there are two elder people that have the same first name OR the first name with similar pronunciation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the example above, there is another elderly named \u201c\u7a0b\u51ac\u9732\u201d (ch\u00e9ng d\u014dng l\u00f9), so you might call \u9648\u8096as \u201c\u8001\u8096\u201d (l\u01ceo xi\u0101o), and \u7a0b\u51ac\u9732 as \u201c\u8001\u51ac\u201d (l\u01ceo d\u014dng) or \u201c\u8001\u9732\u201d (l\u01ceo l\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Chinese nicknames for foreigners<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The first option can be the variation from your original name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Examples \u2013 derived from your original name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
If your name is Mike, it can be transliterated as \u201c\u8fc8\u514b\u201d (m\u00e0i k\u00e8). However, Chinese people are not used to calling this kind of transliterated names. So you would better use the rules above and you can introduce yourself like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**\u6211\u82f1\u6587\u540d\u53eb\u505aMike,\u4f60\u53ef\u4ee5\u53eb\u6211\u201c\u5c0f\u8fc8\u201d\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**w\u01d2 y\u012bng w\u00e9n m\u00edng ji\u00e0o zu\u00f2 Mike,n\u01d0 k\u011b y\u01d0 ji\u00e0o w\u01d2 \u201cxi\u01ceo m\u00e0i \u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Translation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**My English name is Mike. You can just call me Xiaomai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
More examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
**Male:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Charles \u2013 \u5c0f\u8336(ch\u00e1)\/\u5c0f\u67e5(ch\u00e1)\/\u5c0f\u793c(l\u01d0)\/\u5c0f\u9ece(l\u00ed)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**David \u2013 \u5c0f\u5cb1(d\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u7ef4(w\u00e9i)\/\u5c0f\u709c(w\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**James \u2013 \u5c0f\u6770(ji\u00e9)\/\u5c0f\u5c16(ji\u0101n)\/\u5c0f\u5251(ji\u00e0n)\/\u5c0f\u5065(ji\u00e0n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Liam \u2013 \u5c0f\u9ece(l\u00ed)\/\u5c0f\u793c(l\u01d0)\/\u5c0f\u5b89(\u0101n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Lucas \u2013 \u5c0f\u9646(l\u00f9)\/\u5c0f\u5361(k\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Michael \u2013 \u5c0f\u8fc8(m\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u67ef(k\u0113)\/\u5c0f\u73c2(k\u0113)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Oliver \u2013 \u5c0f\u6b27(\u014du)\/\u5c0f\u9ece(l\u00ed)\/\u5c0f\u793c(l\u01d0)\/\u5c0f\u98de(f\u0113i)\/\u5c0f\u5cf0(f\u0113ng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Robert \u2013 \u5c0f\u6d1b(lu\u00f2)\/\u5c0f\u5317(b\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Thomas \u2013 \u5c0f\u5929(ti\u0101n)\/\u5c0f\u6d9b(t\u0101o)\/\u5c0f\u5ef7(t\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u9a6c(m\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**William \u2013 \u5c0f\u709c(w\u011bi)\/\u5c0f\u7ef4(w\u00e9i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Female:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Ava \u2013 \u5c0f\u827e(\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u86d9(w\u0101)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Charlotte \u2013 \u5c0f\u590f(xi\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u5e0c(x\u012b)\/\u5c0f\u5915(x\u012b)\/\u5c0f\u7199(x\u012b)\/\u5c0f\u6d1b(lu\u00f2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Elizabeth \u2013 \u5c0f\u827a(y\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u68a8(l\u00ed) \/\u5c0f\u8389(l\u00ec) \/\u5c0f\u6817(l\u00ec) \/\u5c0f\u98d2(s\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u8d1d(b\u00e8i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Emma \u2013 \u5c0f\u827e(\u00e0i)\/\u5c0f\u9a6c(m\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Isabella \u2013 \u5c0f\u827a(y\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u98d2(s\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u8d1d(b\u00e8i)\/\u5c0f\u5317(b\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Jennifer \u2013 \u5c0f\u6d01(ji\u00e9)\/\u5c0f\u5a55(ji\u00e9)\/\u5c0f\u5357(n\u00e1n)\/\u5c0f\u5b81(n\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u82b3(f\u0101ng)\/\u5c0f\u83f2(f\u0113i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Linda \u2013 \u5c0f\u7075(l\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u7433(l\u00edn)\/\u5c0f\u83f1(l\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u73b2(l\u00edng)\/\u5c0f\u59b2(d\u00e1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Mary \u2013 \u5c0f\u7f8e(m\u011bi)\/\u5c0f\u6885(m\u00e9i)\/\u5c0f\u9a6c(m\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Olivia \u2013 \u5c0f\u6b27(\u014du)\/\u5c0f\u8389(l\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u6817(l\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u68a8(l\u00ed)\/\u5c0f\u8587(w\u0113i)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Rebecca \u2013 \u5c0f\u82ae(ru\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u745e(ru\u00ec)\/\u5c0f\u8d1d(b\u00e8i)\/\u5c0f\u5317(b\u011bi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Sophia \u2013 \u5c0f\u7410(su\u01d2)\/\u5c0f\u83f2(f\u0113i)\/\u5c0f\u5a05(y\u00e0)\/\u5c0f\u96c5(y\u01ce)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Susan \u2013 \u5c0f\u82cf(s\u016b)\/\u5c0f\u6749(sh\u0101n)\/\u5c0f\u5c71(sh\u0101n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
If your Chinese is excellent or you have some Chinese friends to ask for help, another option can be a derivation from your hobbies<\/strong> or characteristics<\/strong>, an interesting thing<\/strong> related to yourself or **a cute thing having a similar pronunciation<\/strong> to your original name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Last but not least, you would better **double-check if the nickname you have sounds good for Chinese people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
What do you need to avoid when getting a Chinese nickname?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Don’t <\/strong>have a nickname with homophony (\u8c10\u97f3, xi\u00e9 y\u012bn)<\/strong> or **ambiguity (\u6b67\u4e49, q\u00ed y\u00ec)<\/strong>, which may cause people to make fun of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**Terrible examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
**\u8c22\u8c22(xi\u00e8 xie) cannot be a nickname, as \u201c\u8c22\u8c22\u201d means \u201cthank you\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n**
$\"\"$ <\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Nowadays, many Chinese nicknames relate to food. But one bad example is \u5c0f\u5403 (xi\u01ceo ch\u012b). \u201c\u5c0f\u5403\u201d means snacks but cannot be a nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Don\u2019t<\/strong> use the Chinese nickname from the last century<\/strong>, like \u72d7\u5269 (g\u01d2u sh\u00e8ng), \u7caa\u86cb (f\u00e8n d\u00e0n) or \u94c1\u67f1 (ti\u011b zh\u00f9).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it is strongly recommended to **check with a native Chinese speaker<\/strong> unless you have well learned not only ancient but also popular Chinese culture; just like a native.<\/p>\n\n\n\n**
Chinese learners use…<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$\"maayot$ <\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n