How do Chinese and Japanese surnames/given names work?

Question

In english-speaking countries and most everywhere else, the given and surnames go in that order, ie John Doe. "John" is what all his friends would call him, "Doe" identifies his family name.

Is it backwards in China and Japan? Their surnames are listed first, right? So then do their friends call them by that name, or the second name? The olympic broadcasts in America are confusing me, because Guo Jingjing (a diver) has been constantly referenced by American commentators as just "Guo", although I'm sure that's her surname. Is that incorrect? What would her friends and family call her? Did the announcers have it wrong?

Could someone explain the entire concept to me, with examples? Thank you very much in advance.

Answer 1

It's the opposite in the Eastern world.  For instance, basketball's Yao Ming has his surname "Yao" on the back of his uniform.

Answer 2

In most cases, in eastern countries, people will refer to people by their first name. However, in some cases (Olympics, sports, formal occasions, or just being polite toward their culture) the surname will be used instead.

Answer 3

Traditionally in several asian countries cite the family name first. Culturally this is the most important name of the two. However in casual conversation you could still refer to them by their first name only, or by both, depending on how well you know the person.

I do believe the the olympic diver's first name is Jingjing, and the her last name Guo. The Chinese would still write it as Guo Jingjing. So yes, the accouncers probably are getting it wrong.

My great-grandfather was named Ho Tin He. "Ho" was actually his surname, and "Tin" was his first name. He always went by Tin, but would write his name out in the proper Chinese way. (surname first) When he immigrated to the US he named his son, Harry. Harry always went by the westernized variation of his name. "Harry Ho."

Answer 4

How can you say the Chinese use of last names is "backwards"? The Chinese were the first to use surnames/last names/family names? When the Chinese started using last names, your European ancestors only go by their given names, and possibly string them all together one generation after another, etc...? I believe your ancestors were "backwards" back then. It is correct, you go by last names [passed down by ancestors] first, then your given name, which was given at birth by grandfathers or fathers to the child. If a grandfather passed away, the oldest member in the village will name the child.  Nowadays, parents will name the child or help the child get a name by a well respected person trusted by the parents. In other words, you write down your last name first in Chinese: given by ancestors first. Secondly, you get a given name at birth. Guo 郭 was given by her ancestors, Jingjing 晶晶 was given by her parents?, so her name therefore is Guo Jingjing 郭晶晶. Jingjing 晶晶 is actually a doubling of the same character 晶, meaning "crystal" in Chinese.  If she was younger, and came to the US or some English speaking country, her name might be "Crystal Jingjing Guo" on English documents. "Crystal", would be chosen, because it's a direct translation of the Chinese name, followed by the Chinese name, used as a "middle name" then followed by the last name. Japanese, Koreans, & Vietnamese followed the Chinese order of writing names.

Answer 5

In America, Eastern Asians are sometimes credited in both ways. Ziyi Zhang and has been credited as both Ziyi Zhang and Zhang Ziyi. In China and Japan, I know that if the names are traditional Chinese or Japanese, they are listed surname first. If an American (ie Jane Turner), the name would be Jane Turner in Japan. They would not say Turner Jane. Friends-just like in every country-usually call each other by their first name. Last names are on a formal basis.

Answer 6

not sure about Japanese

but

for Chinese it's

x............x

surname name

or

x............x x

surname name

family name is usually one word which goes first while the name can consist of one or two words

Answer 7

It is opposite, for Japan at least. I'm quite sure it's the same for the Chinese as well though.

They probably referred to her as Guo because it's considered improper in their countries to call someone by their first name unless they are well aquainted. Even people who know someone well will call them by their surname.

Answer 8

SORRY BUT EVEN WITH VIETNAMESE AND CHINESE FRIENDS IT NEVER WAS DISCUSSED

Answer 9

In Japan, you are called by Surname (Myouji) and Given name (namae).

In school, at work, or any sort of professional environment, you are called by your last name.

I.E. my husband is called Tanaka at work. However, his parents, close friends, me (his wife) call him Akiyuki (or Aki).

Children are different, I didn't grow up in Japan, I believe very young children call each other by first name (ie I have a 4 year old nephew that would call other 4 year olds by first name if he was Japanese), but Japanese schools teach keigo, honorifics, so before long, they'll call each other by last name.

Guo Jingjing- Last name- Guo, First name- Jingjing.

Her first name is two characters repeated, an obvious hint it's her given name.  She's a pretty Chinese lady.

For more on Chinese names, I asked a friend. His response:

Andy Lin: by the first name, but, as u know, Chinese people put last name first, then follow by the middle name, then the first name. (some people have 3 characters for the entire name, some has two, some even has four). usually they like to take the first name (the last character in the name) and use that to call them

Answer 10

maybe they call him Jingjing.

in Japan and China,surnames are listed first instead of the other way around.

acquaintances call them by their last name,unless they are close friends.

in that case,close friends and family relatives call them by their first name.

in Japan,honorifics are added,like -san for acquaintances and -chan/-kun for close friends.

hope this helps.

Answer 11

Guo Jingjing's friends probably call her Guo Jingjing or any nickname that she might have.

Usually, in China, people call their friends both their last name and first name, though the last name comes first.