Spelling of non-Chinese names

[Valdis]

Hi from Riga, Latvia (East Europe)!

My e-mail is valdis.jansons@rs.lv

Recently I started learning Chinese characters that are used for transcription of non-Chinese names, country names, city names. I do not have any learning material but still I think I am on the right way regarding the matter. Usually, in many cases it is quite clear how to write the name. As far as I can understand Valdis is WaErDiSi and it is always spelled with these characters. Thou it is clear that Jansons is YangSongSi, will it always be written in one particular way? I have discovered that "na" can be written differently in different names.

1. Are transcription rules official and approved?
2. Mainland and Taiwanese transcription - any difference?
3. Should characters when put together, have a meaning?
4. Should any character indicate whether it is a masculine/feminine name.
5. Should any of them be avoided because it means smth negative?
6. How Chinese know that spelled Francois Mitterand is Francois Mitterand?

[%sig%]

[Hanzi Wensheng]

1. There are no official rules for transcription. Since when translating foreign names into Chinese, the characters chosen doesn't just represent the phonetic pronounciation but also have meanings. Therefore, historically, those who were friendly to China received more beautiful and graceful translations while those who were enemies of China received ugly names. For example, despite of the current relationship between China and the U.S., they were once allies during World War II and the Chinese Civil War until the Communist took over. Nevertheless, America is translated to "Meiguo" which literally means "Beautiful country". The "Mei" is actually part of the formal name for America which is "Ameilijia". Generally older translations sound more accurate to the original name in Cantonese because Cantonese speakers were the first ones to travel outside of China to Europe and America during the early 19th century.

2. Some, but very few. Generally Taiwan uses traditional (older) translations while the Mainland use a more "updated" set of translation.

3. Depends. As explained above, a single name can be translated "beautifully" or "horribly". However, usually Chinese would try to find the character with the best meaning. But just keep in mind, the most important thing is to translate accurately phonetically than consider the meaning of the characters.

4. Of course. For example, when you translate a man's name, you wouldn't use the "na" with the female radical, only when translating a woman's name.

5. Yes, some characters should be avoided such as "si" which means death.

6. i'm not sure I understand your question.

[Zérö]

I do. His sixth question referred to the fact that François Mitterand is pronounced "fransoi meeteran" (okay, it's a very rough phonetic translation but you get my point.) I beleive he is asking if you translate the phonetics according to spelling or pronouciation.

[whitney]

i would like to get a tatoo of my name in chinese symbols if you could email me it would be great thanks

[Melissa Cervantes]

I would like a few last names in chinese symbols if you could email me the names I would greatly appreciate it, thanks.

1. Cervantes
2. Sanchez
3. Reinhart

[%sig%]

[Melissa Cervantes]

I would like a few last names in chinese symbols if you could email me the names I would greatly appreciate it, thanks.

1. Cervantes
2. Sanchez
3. Reinhart