2007-01-14 17:16:28 · 11 answers · asked by go UCLA bruins! 3 in Sports ➔ Basketball
Many Asian cultures, including Chinese, follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. A Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next. For instance, Yao Ming would be addressed as "Mr. Yao", not "Mr. Ming" because Yao is his family name and Ming is his given name.
Note, however, that some Chinese people who emigrate to, or do business with, Western countries sometimes adopt a Westernized name by simply reversing the "surname–given-name" order to "given-name–surname" ("Ming Yao", to follow the previous example), or with a Western first name together with their surname, which is then written in the usual Western order with the surname last ("Fred Yao"). Other Chinese people sometimes take a combined name, consisting of Western first name, surname, and Chinese given name, in that order ("Fred Yao Ming"), mostly in Hong Kong, or in the order of Western first name, Chinese given name, and surname ("Fred Ming Yao").
2007-01-16 10:07:14 · answer #1 · answered by smeiou78 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Chinese, and in several other Far East Asian countries, the first name is actually the family name. If Yao Ming were an American, his name would read Ming Yao, with his family name being after his own name.
2007-01-15 01:20:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Chinese, his name would be Yao Ming. But translated into English, it would have Yao as his last name. Something like that.
2007-01-15 01:20:21 · answer #3 · answered by athleticsfan12 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yao is Yao ming's last name.
In chinese last name comes first and first name comes last.
2007-01-15 01:22:12 · answer #4 · answered by JJredshot 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yao is his surname. Chinese names puts their surname first and then the given name.
2007-01-15 03:30:28 · answer #5 · answered by say_what!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In China and Japan their first name is the same as our last name, the first name is the family name
G
2007-01-15 02:43:11 · answer #6 · answered by nicname 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Simple answer is:
Chinese/Mandarin language technicality
In China, their first name is their family name.
Ming is his "First name" while Yao is his father's family's name.
2007-01-15 01:19:14 · answer #7 · answered by JtoJ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea last is 1st 1st is last i get that...
but does any 1 know why NENE Hilario has his1st name on his jersey...hes not from china that's for sure
2007-01-15 02:51:12 · answer #8 · answered by DJ Trixx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in chinese name, family/sure name comes first.
2007-01-15 01:20:10 · answer #9 · answered by williams 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz he thinks hes cool cuz hes foriegn.
hahahah jk i dont know..
what the guy below me said sounds intellegent
2007-01-15 02:14:30 · answer #10 · answered by jaylove 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋