4 ms·
It's both a surname and can mean other things (mostly depends on tones). Bāo and Bào are surnames. The "bao" you're thinking of is short for bāo zi.
by momothereal 6y ago
It's both a surname and can mean other things (mostly depends on tones). Bāo and Bào are surnames. The "bao" you're thinking of is short for bāo zi.
- Chris2048 6y agoIf Bāo and Bào are surnames, then it isn't similar to the forename "Joe"?
- momothereal 6y agoYou're technically right, but the comparison isn't completely far fetched considering: * Chinese surnames are monosyllabic, and given names are disyllabic. It'd be more awkward to say "average Joe or Xiùyīng". * Both Chinese given names and surnames are usually "real words". Just like how "Joe" is a descendant of the Hebrew "Yohanan" meaning "Graced by God", or even the many English given names that are real words: Carol, Eve, Jade, etc. It's just more common in Chinese names. * Given names are rarely used by themselves (much less than in Latin languages).