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On language, culture and names


Most Chinese, particularly those living in Mainland China, speak Mandarin (or Putonghua, the proper name in Mainland China). However, those living in Guangtong Province in southern China, and especially those living in Hong Kong, speak Cantonese. Even though the languages sound differently when spoken aloud, they are identical when written in Chinese characters. For this reason, the Chinese MB Herald can be read by both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers.

(A further complication is that there are now two versions of Chinese characters used in the world. People in Hong Kong and Taiwan use the Traditional Chinese characters. Simplified Chinese characters were introduced in Mainland China several years ago under the direction of the Communist government. Now, as a result, not all Mainland Chinese, especially those in the younger generation, can read the Traditional Chinese characters. Chinese from Hong Kong and Taiwan may not understand the Simplified Chinese characters. Singapore, on the other hand, also uses the Simplified Chinese characters.)

Chinese names can also be written in English characters, but the spelling can be confusing. For instance, a name that is expressed by the same Chinese character can be written in English characters as “Chan” or “Chang” or some other variant depending on whether the person is from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mainland China or another Southeast Asian country.

Many Chinese people have a surname and two hyphenated personal names. In Chinese, the surname comes first (opposite to the order for Western names). For instance, one of the first Chinese MB pastors was . In English characters, this name was written Chu Yu-Man. To make things even more confusing, many Chinese, particularly those from “anglicized” places such as Hong Kong, also take an “English” personal name. Thus, pastor Chu Yu-Man was known in the MB Conference as Eddie Chu.

 – jc

The B.C. Chinese MB churches meet together each year for a joint Good Friday service. This year, they met April 15 in Fraserview MB Church in Richmond. Attendance was 1050 in the Chinese service, 248 in the English service and 150 in three children’s programs run by Burnaby Pacific Grace Chinese Church and Vancouver Chinese MB Church. When there were fewer churches, all of the senior pastors preached at the Good Friday service. Now, a schedule has been set up so that four churches are responsible for the Chinese service each year. This year, choirs from South Pacific Grace Chinese Church, Richmond Chinese MB Church, Vancouver Christian Logos Church and Bethel Chinese Christian MB Church ministered. The senior pastors of those four churches, Patrick Fung, Peter Mau, John Kwok and David Poon, preached on Christ’s seven statements from the cross. Pastor James Ip of Burnaby Pacific Grace Chinese church led the congregational singing, and pastor David Chan of Pacific Grace MB Church and chair of the B.C. Chinese MB ministerial, chaired the service. An offering of over $8700 was received, which will be used to cover expenses for the service and to support theological education for South American theological students and other outreach programs.

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Last modified November 21, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.