 
Chinese First Names |
The logo shown above is the Chinese word for 'first name.' |
Each Chinese person has a different first name At least within the family. But often it is a unique name not used by anyone else. In many Western countries, there is a short list of popular 'first names,' but countless 'last names.' In China, it is just the reverse. The list of last name is short, and the number of first names is in the billions. This may be the reason that in Western countries, one customarily tell strangers one's first name ("My name is Bob.") Whereas in China, one generally give out his last name instead ("Just ask for Mr. Wang.") |
