Why do some countries like China put there family name first?

Question

I've noticed their given names are second. Do there friends call them by their given name (first name) or there family name (last name)?

Answer 1

Its more Formal. In most countries its the Formal way to write a name

Answer 2

I guess there's the Wong way and the White way.

Just kidding, it's chronologically more logical.  The last name goes first on most applications and documents, roll call for school, and in sports and in the Military, I'd dare say most people are referred to by their family or last name first in almost all cultures.

Answer 3

It's just the way the culture evolved.

No special reason.

Answer 4

They call them by their given name. They just have different sentence structure and stuff like that. No big deal. =)

Answer 5

In the East, much more value is put on the family than we place in the West.  The most important thing in their culture is their family, so that name goes first.  Their entire identity is Family... oh yeah, and as a sub-set, my portion of that Family.

In the West, only the uber-rich do this... "I am Robert Jones, of the New York Joneses."