Real public examples

Famous Chinese name stories.

Real Chinese names used by public figures show how sound, surname choice, dignity and cultural readability work in practice.

马可波罗 (Ma Keboluo)

Marco Polo

Venetian traveler and writer

transliteration

利玛窦 (Li Madou)

Matteo Ricci

Italian Jesuit scholar in Ming China

Ming China scholarship

汤若望 (Tang Ruowang)

Johann Adam Schall von Bell

German Jesuit astronomer in Ming-Qing China

Qing astronomy

南怀仁 (Nan Huairen)

Ferdinand Verbiest

Flemish Jesuit astronomer in Qing China

Qing astronomy

赛珍珠 (Sai Zhenzhu)

Pearl Buck

American Nobel Prize-winning writer

sound and meaning blend

陆克文 (Lu Kewen)

Kevin Rudd

Former Prime Minister of Australia

statesperson

司徒雷登 (Situ Leideng)

John Leighton Stuart

American missionary, educator and diplomat

long-term Chinese identity

郎世宁 (Lang Shining)

Giuseppe Castiglione

Italian Jesuit court painter in Qing China

sinicized cultural identity

白求恩 (Bai Qiu'en)

Norman Bethune

Canadian physician known for medical work in China

medical service

李提摩太 (Li Timotai)

Timothy Richard

Welsh missionary, educator and translator in China

modern scholarship

李约瑟 (Li Yuese)

Joseph Needham

British historian of science and sinologist

modern scholarship

马海德 (Ma Haide)

George Hatem

Physician who worked in China

medical service

沙博理 (Sha Boli)

Sidney Shapiro

American-born translator and writer in China

translation and literature

骆家辉 (Luo Jiahui)

Gary Locke

Former U.S. Ambassador to China

ambassador

洪博培 (Hong Bopei)

Jon Huntsman Jr.

Former U.S. Ambassador to China

ambassador

雷德 (Lei De)

Clark T. Randt Jr.

Former U.S. Ambassador to China

ambassador

芮效俭 (Rui Xiaojian)

J. Stapleton Roy

Former U.S. Ambassador to China

ambassador