学进去

Chinese names are full of meanings. It is part of the culture. Western people’s names are a little 1． (difference). Let’s look at some of the 2． (reason) behind Western names.

If 3． girl from China is called “Mei”, we know it means “beautiful”. If a boy is called “Wu”, we know it means “like a soldier”. It is because of the meaning 4． people choose the names for the little boy or girl.

Sometimes names 5． (pick) for their meaning in the West too. If a girl is called “Joy” then the parents have named her this because they want her to be happy and to bring others 6． (happy). Other times names are chosen because they are traditional – names 7． (take) from the Bible (圣经) for example, like Noah, Mathew, Ruth and John.

But in a Western country boys and girls are given names for other reasons. The sound 8． (be) very important. Parents call a girl Jasmine, maybe just because they like the sound of it.

Parents will often choose a name because it also 9． (belong) to a famous person, say a pop star, an actor, or a footballer. In the last 10 years many boys have been named “David” 10． the footballer David Beckham.