Are the names Chen (Karen and Nathan), Chan (Patrick) and Zhang (Caroline) different or identical in mandarin?
This was discussed in another thread a few months ago. (Give me a moment to see if I can find it)
Conventionally, people who have the same Chinese surname has ancestors who had originated from the same village in China.
So even though Patrick is from Canada and Karen and Nathan are from US, their ancestors probably once lived in the same city/town/village in China.
Older Chinese people used to frown if two people with the same Chinese surname wants to get married with each other even if they are several generations born in a new country. In fact it is quite rare for husband and wife to have the same Chinese surname. I don't know about Chinese immigrants in other countries.
Here's a slightly related fun fact (because I am an overly-enthusiastic linguistic major ): Cantonese, Hokkien and Hakka are usually considered as Chinese dialects, but from a linguistic point of view, they are separate languages.
Dialects are defined by linguists as mutually intelligible forms of a language. In other words, people speaking the dialects of the same language are supposed to be able to understand one another. However, a Mandarin speaker would not understand what a Hokkien speaker is saying without learning Hokkien first, so they are technically different languages.
Conventionally, people who have the same Chinese surname has ancestors who had originated from the same village in China.
So even though Patrick is from Canada and Karen and Nathan are from US, their ancestors probably once lived in the same city/town/village in China.
Older Chinese people used to frown if two people with the same Chinese surname wants to get married with each other even if they are several generations born in a new country. In fact it is quite rare for husband and wife to have the same Chinese surname. I don't know about Chinese immigrants in other countries.
I know people who are still bothered by married couples who share the same surname, and they're not exactly old.
What about Li and Lee? Are they from the same origin?
What about Li and Lee? Are they from the same origin?
I know people who are still bothered by married couples who share the same surname, and they're not exactly old.
Is it true that Mandarin was actually a dialect as well and has the same status as other dialects but was chosen as the official language of China?
I think it is a good choice. Mandarin language sounds more pleasing compared to other dialects. My own dialect sounds like people arguing when they are actually having a normal conversation.
In some cases.
Back in the old days, when immigrants arrived in their destination country, they would go to the immigration office for processing. And more often than not, the person filling in the forms would spell the names based on what they heard when the immigrants said their name.
Hence how we ended up with different spellings for the same original name.
And if Mathman comes across this conversation, he will explain his own family connection to this process.
But, as da96103 posted while I was writing this, Lee and Li can also be different names.
It can get very complicated!
CaroLiza_fan
Yes, it is but then I think they had a vote because there are just too many dialects in China. Can't remember the exact details though.
And I agree Mandarin is easier on the ears. :agree: What's your dialect? I'm guessing Hakka or Hokkien based on your description (mine is the latter). Though Cantonese speakers also sound like they want to pick a fight with you sometimes.
(Going soooo off topic here, we need a language-related thread in the cafe )
Each Chinese sound has four tones. For example Li, Li, Li, Li. (this makes no sense when written down but someone who knows Mandarin would read out the 4 Li's in different tones automatically)
But when romanized it is all Li.
The pinyin way of writing has a small symbol above the romanized word to represent the four tones.
1st tone is a horizontal line.
2nd tone is similar to the french accent ague (upwards diagonal)
3rd tone is an V shape
4th tone is similar to the the french accent grave (downwards diagonal)