Family Relations and Names
By admin on 2015-01-07

Although Chinese embraces the concept of of equality between man and women, traditionally Chinese families have followed patriarchal lines.  The Chinese extended family tends to be more significant in life than that of Western cultures, and thusly the different relationships are further distinguished than they are in English.  When speaking for siblings, Chinese people almost always refer to them in respect to being older brothers and older sisters or younger brothers and younger sisters.  The same differentiation occurs among aunts, uncles, cousins etc.  Chinese relatives are even further divided by paternal relatives and maternal relatives.  Grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws etc. on the father's side have different tittles than grandparents, uncles, aunts, in-laws etc. on the mother's side.

Chinese names are given in the reverse of Western names.  The surname is said first, and then the given name.  For example, Bruce Lee's name rendered in Yale Cantonese romanization is  /Leih/ /Siu/ \Luhng\.  /Leih/ (Lee) is his surname and spoken first.  The given name (Little Dragon) is spoken secondly.  Professional, social, and family tittles always follow the name as well.  The titles Doctor, Master, Professor, or Teacher would follow the surname or full name.  Dr. Wong would be Huang Yi Sheng (Huang Doctor- Mandarin pinyin).  Master Man Fa Kwok would be Gwok Mahn -Fa- /Si/ /Fu/ (Yale Cantonese romanization.)  Likewise Xiansheng (Mr.) and Taitai (Mrs.) are said after the surname.

Familial terms can also be added to the surname of someone not related to impute to them a special closeness or relationship to the speaker.  Little children are often told to address elders as "older brother" "older sister" "aunt" or "uncle".  In this case the family title can either be used alone, or be added to a person's surname.  (If a person is known by an English name the title is said after the person's given name.  For example, Michael gege <older brother>)