Mandarin Names

The Mandarin dialect is the national language of mainland China. However, most Chinese speak both the Mandarin dialect and the dialect of their particular province. For instance, in the province of Guangdong, people speak Cantonese and Mandarin. Mandarin and Cantonese use the same characters in their written system but many differ widely in the phonetic and tonal pronunciations. Consequently, a name or word may appear the same but sound quite different when spoken. When introducing someone or stating one's full name, the last name is said first.

The English writing systems for Chinese languages (dialects) attempt to make Chinese characters readable to foreigners. Wade and Giles Latinate spelling is used in Taiwan. Pinyin spelling is used on mainland China and is currently the internationally accepted system. Below are examples of Chinese last names using both spellings. these names are pronounced the same.

Wade Giles	Pinyin
Shu	Xu
Yee	Yi
Lee	Li
Chau	Zhao
Kuo-lee	Quo-li

To listen to the native Mandarin pronunciation of Chinese last names, select a name from the list below. First and last names, some with phonetic pronunciations only follow.
Last Names	Last Names	Last Names	Last Names
Ai	Cai	Cao	Chen
Chi	Deng	Dai	Ding
Duan	Fan	Fang	Feng
Gao	Gu	Guo	Han
He	Hu	Huang	Jian
Jiang	Jin	Lei	Li
Liang	Lin	Liu	Lu
Luo	Ma	Mao	Mi
Pan	Peng	Qi	Qian
Qiang	Qin	Qiu	Quan
Shen	Shi	Si	Song
Su	Sun	Tan	Tang
Wang	Wei	Wu	Xi
Xiang	Xie	Xu	Yan
Yang	Yu	Yuan	Zhang
Zhao	Zheng	Zhong	Zhou
Zhu	Zhuang

First Names	Mandarin (Wade Giles)	Last Names	Mandarin (Wade Giles)
Chien	chee-en	Chan	chahn
Chiu	cheeoo	Chang	chahng
Di	dee	Chen	chuhn
Du-Wah	doo wah	Cheng	chung
Fah	fah	Cheong	chung
Fong	fong	Chin	cheen
Jinho	rinho	Chou	choh
Jong	rong	Chung	chahng
Ki	kee	Fong	fahng
Kwai	kwai	Ho	hoh
Lai-Ching	ly ching	Hong	hahng
Len	len	Hsu	soo
Li-Li	lee lee	Huang	whong
Liang	lee ang	Kao	gow
Li-Kung	lee kung	Lee	lee
Lin	lin	Liao	leeow
Ling	ling	Liu	leeyoh
Li-Sheng	lee sheng	Ma	mah
Mei	may	Ouyang	ohyahng
Riu	ree oo	Sheh	shieh
Soon	suhn	Siah	shiah
Sung	sung	Siung	shung
Wah-Tai	wah tahee	Wong	wahng
Wang	wang	Wu	oo
Yung-Ling	yung leeng	Yang	yang
Zhuo-Shing	choh sheeng	Yee	ee
		Yeh	yieh
		Yiu	oo (rising intonation)
		Yu	oo
		Yuan(Yuen)	yooen

You can learn more about Chinese names at Wikipedia.

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updated June 22, 2005