WHY we call Chinese the given name while we call others the family name?

Question

I am from China.
We usually call Yao Ming "Ming" or "Mingming".
But we call Zinedine Zidane "Zidane".even nobody know who Zinedine is.

Answer 1

That is the Chinese convention.
It is rude to call someone by the first name and everybody uses the last name, unless they have adapted to American convention.

Answer 2

I don't know but it makes my job very interesting!
I have to find accounts and place payments from insurance companies where they pay to Yao Ming and we have the account as Sue Ming!

Job Security!

Answer 3

Culturally, Chinese emphasize the group over the individual.

That's reflected in the structure of Chinese names, which begin with the family name: Hao Xiang Wen (Mr. Hao)

English/American names begin with the given name: John Doe Smith (Mr. Smith).

Hsiao3 Xiang4 Wen2

Answer 4

first last are not first last. China family name first, other name last. other peoples family name last person name first. first name last last name first. China name like other name in government book, last first, first last and all backward, simple, see, see simply

LN the formal vesion is with the Sue repeated, sue sue ming

Answer 5

It is what it is. I know a girl in Beijing named Mei. I call her Mei, not Chen. According to Mei, that is common in china now. So I question the truthfullness of your assertion.

Answer 6

i'm not sure I understand your question.
wo kan bu deng ni de wenti

Answer 7

huh? thought we called people whatever they prefered for us to call them, thats what i do.