How to Convert English Names to Chinese
Chinese characters are incredibly complicated and that complexity both enhances and detracts from the written language because characters cannot convey pronunciation of the text but they can capture nuances of meaning that are not captured with the Roman alphabet. It is perhaps because Chinese characters capture nuances of meaning and because the characters themselves are so beautifully designed that many people like to see their names translated into Chinese.
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Instructions
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Go to the website On-Line Chinese Tools at http://www.mandarintools.com/
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Click on "Chinese Namer," which can be found in the introductory paragraph just below the Google search bar.
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Enter your given name, which is your first name.
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Enter your surname, which is your last name or family name.
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Enter characteristics you want your name to express by selecting from the drop-down menu. Chinese names often incorporate personality traits that parents want their child to possess. Some parents might want a child's name to indicate strength while other parents might want to emphasize their child's intelligence.
The nice thing about the Chinese Namer tool is that you get to decide what characteristic is captured in your name.
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Enter your gender by selecting from the drop-down window.
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Enter the day, month and year of your birth.
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Click "Get a Name." View your results. The Chinese name provided is composed of three characters, the first of which represents your first name, the second of which represents the characteristics you chose, and the third of which represents your last name. It's important to note, however, that the name provided is "inspired" by your name rather than a direct translation.
Written Chinese language is represented by characters, not by a phonetic alphabet, which means a direct translation of your name is impossible. Instead, the website chooses characters for the first and last name that come close to the English pronunciation while the other character is a specific representation of the quality you chose. In other words, the only direct translation occurs with the middle character.
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Click on the links provided for each character and you will be able to hear your new name pronounced correctly.
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Start again from the beginning. Because the name you're provided with is only a loose translation, the authors of the website encourage you to try out multiple names until you find one that you like.
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