1. Chinese Name Suggestions
Of course, if your child is going to introduce themself, they’ll need a name! Chinese names can be a lot of fun to choose, because some parts are chosen because they sound nice, and others because they have deeper meanings.
Many people want to find a Chinese name that sounds like their native one, and luckily Chinese pronunciations mean that there are lots of different ways to approach this! Below are some examples of Chinese names that could come from the English names “Alexander” or “Alexandra” – even if these aren’t your English names, these names could still work for you if you like them!
Boy names based on “Alexander”:
安雷；祖恩；继明；博辉；浩博；凌志；豪立；文清；培伦……
Girl names based on “Alexandra”:
安蕾；茹丹；娴丽；雯琪；茜薇；雪莉；燕娜；思佳；意慧……
Okay, you have your name so that means you’re all set, right? Well… if you want your child to be able to do more than just point at themselves and shout their name, there are a few simple words and phrases they should learn, and a question or two they should be able to answer.
If it sounds like a lot, don’t worry! We’re keeping it as simple as possible today, so your child will be able to answer when someone asks their name, their age, and where they’re from.
How to say it
A: Nǐ jiào shén me míng zì?
B: Wǒ jiào ān lěi.
What it looks like
A: 你叫什么名字？
B: 我叫安磊。
What it means
A: What’s your name?
B: My name is An Lei.
How to say it
A: Nǐ jīn nián jǐ suì le?/Nǐ jīn nián duō dà le?
B: Wǒ jīn nián 15 suì.
What it looks like
A: 你今年几岁了？/你今年多大了？
B: 我今年15岁。
What it means
A: What’s your age?/ How old are you?
B: I’m 15 years old.
How to say it
A: Nǐ lái zì nǎ lǐ?
B: Wǒ lái zì měi guó .
What it looks like
A: 你来自哪里？
B: 我来自美国。
What it means
A: Where are you from?
B: I’m from America.
It’s pretty understandable when children are shy to use the Chinese they know with other people, but there are many ways to boost their confidence and help them feel comfortable speaking in a language that’s not their first. For example…
Find some songs they might enjoy singing along with, like this one:
Introduce them to some Chinese kids shows, like the popular Peppa Pig:
Show them some Chinese picture books, many of which can be found here:
中国华文教育网：http://hwjyw.jinglelingo.net/
美洲华语：http://www.mzchinese.net/Resources/Resource-traditional.htm
儿童文化馆：https://children.moc.gov.tw/animate_list?type=1
It may seem like a daunting task, getting your child to speak another language. However, the good news is that it’s really, really, easy for them to start! There are infinite resources and opportunities to practice, all you have to do is give them the chance and get them excited about learning.
“The Best Ways to Encourage Children to Learn Chinese”
“If You Think Teaching Your Kids Chinese Is Scary, Read This First”
”10 of the Best Movies and TV Shows to Interest Your Child in Learning Chinese”
