Rant: Don't Butcher Chinese Names Please
I'm thinking of having a character whose first name is Wugui (无归), I'm afraid it might be taken as turtle (乌龟). Any suggestions? As long as it keeps the same general meaning is fine. Thanks.
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Ithilien honestly yes, I see it as turtle. and in general, that's a bad name too because it makes me think of the phrase "无家可归" which literally means hobo. idk if your character is a homeless man and that's intentional but I would advise against using that name.
as for alternatives... how about 望归/Wanggui? Wang = looking to and Gui = return to, so together, the name would mean wishing for a place to return to but not having one, which is similar as Wugui but also slightly different.
though ngl I don't like the word 'gui' in a name (I just don't like the sound of it in names), so how about these names:
孤冥/Guming = alone in the darkness
离影/Liying = separate & in the shadows
临渊/Linyuan = facing the abyss (of one's own mind, perhaps?)
all of these are pretty depressing, but then again, Wugui also sounds depressing, so yep.
In general, no one really wishes to give their child a name that means that they'll have nowhere to return to so that's why there's barely any proper names that work like that.
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻ Too late. Already picked a name and it'll feel weird to change it now. Might as well go with the flow~
yaoyueyi That was kind of the point of the name, to be honest. It this case, the couple was forced to leave their home, not because they had to, but as a resolve. My intention was for them to name their child 无归 to remind themselves of the sacrifices they've made and as a reminder not to look back. But I see how it can ne depressing.
Thanks for your suggestions, I'll think about it.
Here is a list of my characters, please tell me if there is something wrong with their names. (i'm sure junhui and jieqiong was fine tho, if you're a kpop fan, you'll understand)
Huang Liwei
Han Junhui
Xu Jieqiong
Zhou Lingtian
Li Zixian
Yan Sheng
Jiang Yunxi
Leng Linlin
Qin Yanxi
Qian Yinluo
yaoyueyi
I'd like to join in on this train and request some help. =p. Very few of my characters are Chinese, so this isn't usually an issue for me, lol.
Is Fang Hao okay as a Chinese name? I chose it randomly based on some names from previous Chinese novels I've read. Honestly, no idea what it would even mean.
I also need a name for Fang Hao's super powerful grandfather. Any ideas? Also, is Hao the last name or is Fang? I always get confused on whether the Chinese last name comes first or second.
Unrelated to the above, I need a Chinese name for one other male character. Something along the lines of dragon or child of heaven. I was thinking of using 'Long' in the name, but unsure of what to do for the rest of it.
Any good sources for where I can get Chinese names? Most of my 3rd volume takes place in China, so I have a feeling I'll be needing quite a few of them over time. However, the 3 previously mentioned characters are the only important ones in my story as far as China goes.
yaoyueyi
I picked the Chinese names from a name generator site. Just now I tried my Chinese names on google translate as you said and saw some ridiculous things. :D It would be very nice if you can check the names I used. I want to change them if there is a grave mistake. :D Thank you for opening this 'rant diss' btw, it opened my eyes.
Here are the names;
Female; Shen Zhi, Shen Huang, Shen Lan
Male; Meng Heng, Meng Long
qostoq would advise against shen zhi... makes me think of 甚至 which means even. shen huang also doesn't seem like a female name. if your last name is '沈', all three of those names sound a bit ridiculous in chinese. shen lan is the best out of the three, but again, I'm not a big fan.
meng heng is okay, but meng long is not. reminds me of 朦胧 which means hidden... and although it may not sound bad, it's pretty pathetic of a name.
hope this helps.
I dislike my Chinese name. I wish my parents did not name after a season bird.
@yaoyueyi
Do you know any sites with good information on them that would help me understand this topic? As Zhen Xin mentioned earlier, I use the same site usually but reading this makes me feel like my names could have been made better.
WorstNameEver nope, I don't.
all the sites I know are in Chinese bc the English ones usually suck.
yaoyueyi
Argh... dang. Alright, then I guess I have to mention names said so far.
Fan Zhi - MC
Fan Heng - Never been sure if this one was good, always felt off to me
Fan Hui
Fan Cheng
WorstNameEver sounds decent.
yaoyueyi
ok cool, I wasn't entirely sure how they sounded. I tried looking at a lot of Eastern Fantasy translations and names used and such to try get a good idea of what works and what doesn't
yaoyueyi
Two Chinese names for girls, fitting for the eastern fantasy genre. Their last name must sound strong. One of the girls' name preferably should be related to moon. She is fifteen. She has white hair and silver eyes. Most of the time she is silent, but a predator on the inside.
The other one is a mature woman with a sharp face. They are from the same sect, so their last names will be the same. This one isn't that important for me but the other girl is.
Would this be enough for you to give me a suggestion? :)
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That awkward moment when I'm Chinese and I feel like I thoroughly screwed up my names lolol XDD
Would you mind giving feedback to these names below, if you're not too busy? c:
Bai Lifei (f)
Huang Peizhi (m)
Huang Wu Ting (m)
Xue Guren (m)
Ling Jiayi (f)
Thank you so much in advance :heart:
luminouslyy guren sounds like old acquaintance
otherwise they're fine, though I'm not a fan of Wang Jian just because he sounds so 贱 lmao
yaoyueyi Amitabha, I know a penniless monk that ran into someone named just that...
yaoyueyi Are you serious? Like, the dudes name actually translates to beard? That’s funny as hell!
BaronFroggie yep, that's the connotation it gives off. and the problem is that the character is female. :grimacing:
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yaoyueyi You're a goddess, I never knew I need! Thank you oh holy Goddess Yaoyueyi.
-Zhong Ling
-Long Wu
ChocolatChan lmao why is everyone calling me that :joy:
zhong ling sounds like clock bell which feels wrong
long wu is average.
