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A thread with some thoughts on where I put spacings and hyphens when I romanise Chinese words/names. Mainly DMBJ examples, but also other c-media.
I'd love to hear how other people do it too, especially if you also understand Chinese! I don't think there's a hard and fast rule.
I'd love to hear how other people do it too, especially if you also understand Chinese! I don't think there's a hard and fast rule.
Generally, and personally, I go with:
• If it's a single word or concept, I spell it together
• I use spacings to separate words, or surnames / descriptors from personal names
• I usually use hyphens to denote forms of address that become part of the name
Examples
• If it's a single word or concept, I spell it together
• I use spacings to separate words, or surnames / descriptors from personal names
• I usually use hyphens to denote forms of address that become part of the name
Examples
Eg. 1
I write 小哥 as "xiaoge", not "xiao ge"
This is because 小哥 is an actual Chinese word / general form of address for a young man whose name you may not know.
(Which explains how Zhang Qiling got that nickname in Daomu.
)
I write 小哥 as "xiaoge", not "xiao ge"
This is because 小哥 is an actual Chinese word / general form of address for a young man whose name you may not know.
(Which explains how Zhang Qiling got that nickname in Daomu.
)
Eg. 2
In contrast, when Wu Xie's uncles call him 小邪, I would write it as "Xiao Xie", not "Xiaoxie".
This is because it's a diminutive add-on, 小 (little), plus actual name, Xie.
It would be different if "xiao" were actually part of his name. Then I'd write it "[Wu] Xiaoxie".
In contrast, when Wu Xie's uncles call him 小邪, I would write it as "Xiao Xie", not "Xiaoxie".
This is because it's a diminutive add-on, 小 (little), plus actual name, Xie.
It would be different if "xiao" were actually part of his name. Then I'd write it "[Wu] Xiaoxie".
Eg. 3+++
胖子 is Pangzi, not Pang Zi, as it's a single word for a fat person.
瞎子 is Xiazi, not Xia Zi, as it's a single word for a blind person.
胖子 is Pangzi, not Pang Zi, as it's a single word for a fat person.
瞎子 is Xiazi, not Xia Zi, as it's a single word for a blind person.
Eg. 4
As for 黑眼镜, I'd write it as Heiyanjing but be tempted to write it as Hei Yan Jing lol.
The former as it's one concept, dark glasses.
The latter as the former looks odd. (Is it just me?)
I won't write it as Hei Yanjing, as it suggests Hei is a surname, which it isn't.
As for 黑眼镜, I'd write it as Heiyanjing but be tempted to write it as Hei Yan Jing lol.
The former as it's one concept, dark glasses.
The latter as the former looks odd. (Is it just me?)
I won't write it as Hei Yanjing, as it suggests Hei is a surname, which it isn't.
Eg. 5++
Hyphens, I use when it's name + title, or two separate concepts combined into a single concept.
When Pangzi calls himself 胖爷, it's Pang-ye, i.e. Fat[ty] + Master
Wu Xie's Second Uncle and Third Uncle are Er-shu (二叔, 2 + uncle) and San-shu (三叔, 3 + uncle).
Hyphens, I use when it's name + title, or two separate concepts combined into a single concept.
When Pangzi calls himself 胖爷, it's Pang-ye, i.e. Fat[ty] + Master
Wu Xie's Second Uncle and Third Uncle are Er-shu (二叔, 2 + uncle) and San-shu (三叔, 3 + uncle).
Eg. 6
To make it complex, let's use one of Wu Xie's nicknames, 小三爷.
I'd write it as Xiao Sanye, as it's essentially two concepts: Little + Third Master.
I could write 三爷 as San-ye as it's two concepts in one, but Xiao San-ye looks ugly. I may without the Xiao though.
To make it complex, let's use one of Wu Xie's nicknames, 小三爷.
I'd write it as Xiao Sanye, as it's essentially two concepts: Little + Third Master.
I could write 三爷 as San-ye as it's two concepts in one, but Xiao San-ye looks ugly. I may without the Xiao though.
Eg. 7
A-Ning vs. Ah Ning
I've seen both. Both are valid. They're how 阿宁 sounds.
But when I write, I gravitate to Ah Ning as I tend to think of 阿 as a sound you add to someome's name (here, Ning) to make it a diminutive name. But if 阿 is part of her actual name, then A-Ning
A-Ning vs. Ah Ning
I've seen both. Both are valid. They're how 阿宁 sounds.
But when I write, I gravitate to Ah Ning as I tend to think of 阿 as a sound you add to someome's name (here, Ning) to make it a diminutive name. But if 阿 is part of her actual name, then A-Ning
The end! I probably have more thoughts about this, but they're too nebulous for now.
Again, this is not intended to be prescriptive! I just thought it'd be interesting to set out and rationalise the "rules" I operate on.
I'd love to hear how other people do it, and why!
Again, this is not intended to be prescriptive! I just thought it'd be interesting to set out and rationalise the "rules" I operate on.
I'd love to hear how other people do it, and why!
