Was stuck in the queue at the Ministry of the Interior today, and picked up a leaflet in English - “we care about how you adopt a Chinese Name”. Came across some sound advice at the end:
I still find it odd that a Chinese name is mandatory for an ARC.
Despite not having an official language, I’ve never heard of the US issuing a passport in a name that used anything other than the 26 English letters. So I suppose it’s not really that unreasonable.
Not unreasonable, but still a little strange. hansioux, there are of course “standard” translations of common English names, and this is what people tend to end up with. 約翰‧史密斯, etc.
What’s more annoying to me is when people ask me: “You have a Chinese name???”
Chinese names are required for practically nothing nowadays. I have an ARC. Several bank accounts. I bought a car and motorcycle. I have both DL’s. I bought a business and use an English chop. I remember there being at least one thing where Chinese names are required (marriage I think) but most things can be done in English. It is debatable whether or not it is beneficial to have a Chinese name (shorter and they work better in some of the antiquated data systems) though.
There are plenty of things that require Chinese still. My scooter license only has my Chinese name on it. No English. My wife’s ID card lists me as her spouse using my Chinese name. Some web forms for buying stuff only allow a few characters for the name field. Also, try booking a restaurant with an English last name…
You: 你好，我要訂25號晚上，總共有6位
Restaurant: 您貴姓？
You: Rodriguez.
…
With a Chinese name you can insist that Starfucks actually use a name and don’t write “The Foreigner” on your over-priced cup of froth.
[quote=“Hokwongwei”]There are plenty of things that require Chinese still. My scooter license only has my Chinese name on it. No English. My wife’s ID card lists me as her spouse using my Chinese name. Some web forms for buying stuff only allow a few characters for the name field. Also, try booking a restaurant with an English last name…
You: 你好，我要訂25號晚上，總共有6位
Restaurant: 您貴姓？
You: Rodriguez.
…[/quote]
I am not saying that there aren’t benefits to having a Chinese name but the gov’t doesn’t require anyone to have a Chinese name (except for marriage as mentioned above). I have both vehicles and DL’s in my English name.
whenever I go pick up packages at my apartment building, I always see there are several packages for a “Mr./Mrs. Wai, Gouren” listed on there.
I’ve finally learned to write my Chinese name, after 8 years 
. It’s quite easy. Don’t know what took me so long.
Still can’t do the home address though. Strangely, my wife gave our daughter my (random) Chinese surname, rather than her own family name. Took me a couple of months to realise that, and I’ve forgotten why she did it.
You could always pick a Chinese name that is easy to write.
My completely Chinese illiterate colleague knows his Chinese name off by heart. It’s simply 王三一
I’d be really interested to hear this story. I’ve met only very few non-Taiwanese-father families who have used the “foreign” last name in Chinese. My future children will definitely have my wife’s last name, since mine is, essentially, made up. My last name in English, hers in Chinese, seems fair, right?
I not really like that you have to choose a chinese name. I would prefer just having an english name. The alphabet is just 26 characters, its by far a better writing system then chinese characters. All these students waisting so much time on learning chinese characters.
Expert-level trolling.
well… don’t worry, most people here in Taiwan had made up Chinese surnames as well, since most of the Taiwanese were of Pingpu aboriginal origin. Most aboriginals still use their Chinese names despite the fact now it is supposedly ok to just use the romanization of their original names, probably to avoid discrimination. Most of the Taiwanese families also at one time had made up Japanese surnames.
I would strongly encourage you to choose one of the 100 most common Chinese surnames. This ensures Chinese people will recognise your name as a person’s name rather than a thing or a place.
100 most common Chinese surnames: sinosplice.com/learn-chinese … e-surnames
First, you should be sure of a family name.
Wonder why they care? I don’t care if students call themselves Peggy or Spoon or Neo or whatever in English. It’s their business if they want to use a made-up, secondary name. I can understand a ban on, say, extreme profanity, but apart from that, who cares?
My wife’s name is 竹 so I’ve always called her 猪. When we started to prepare things for our marriage she told me I needed to choose a Chinese name. I suggested 飛豬. She said she couldn’t accept being married to someone called ‘flying pig’ but she thought for a moment or two then suggested 飛狐, because of a character in a silly wuxia novel. So, combined with her family name, my name is ‘flying fox king’.
If Taiwanese get to choose funny English names then I reckon I get to choose a funny Chinese one.
Because teaching culture is part of teaching language. Since culture is basically what a group of people considers to be normal, tipping them off that being named “Spoon” isn’t usually considered normal, and telling them what sort of reaction that might get from native English speakers – is part of the service, I would think.