My Chinese coworkers gave me a nickname on day 3. It stuck. Here's how Chinese nicknames work.
My friend from Colombia started a job in Beijing. Tall. Curly hair. Enthusiastic.On day 3, a colleague said: "We're going to call you 小卷 (Xiao Juan)."
He asked what it meant.
"Little Curls. Because of your hair."
He thought it was a joke. It wasn't. For the next two years, everyone called him Xiao Juan. His manager. The CEO. The cleaning lady. Even clients.
How Chinese nicknames work:
In China, nicknames are not insults. They're terms of affection and inclusion. If someone gives you a nickname, it means they've accepted you into the group.
Common nickname patterns:
1. Physical features
• 小胖 (Xiao Pang) = Little Fatty (for someone chubby)
• 高个 (Gao Ge) = Tall Guy
• 卷毛 (Juan Mao) = Curly Hair
• 眼镜 (Yan Jing) = Glasses
2. Name-based
• First syllable of your name + 小 (Xiao = little)
• Michael → 小麦 (Xiao Mai)
• Jessica → 小杰 (Xiao Jie)
3. Personality-based
• 吃货 (Chi Huo) = Foodie
• 学霸 (Xue Ba) = Study God (for someone smart)
• 话痨 (Hua Lao) = Chatterbox
4. The 老 (Lao = old) prefix
• For respected colleagues: 老王 (Lao Wang), 老李 (Lao Li)
• Foreigners sometimes get 老 + first syllable of name
5. The 阿 (A) prefix
• Casual, friendly: 阿明 (A Ming), 阿杰 (A Jie)
Why nicknames are given so quickly:
Chinese names are 2-3 characters. Everyone is used to short, specific identifiers. Your full foreign name (Michael Johnson, 14 letters) is inconvenient.
So they shorten it. Or rename you based on what they notice about you.
It's not rude. It's efficient. And it's caring.
Can you refuse a nickname?
Technically yes. But it's awkward. It makes you seem standoffish.
Better approach: If you hate the nickname, suggest an alternative.
My Colombian friend didn't mind "Little Curls." But he asked people to also use his actual name sometimes. They respected that.
Foreigners giving themselves Chinese names:
Some foreigners choose a Chinese name before arriving. This is fine, but:
• Make sure a native speaker approves it. Bad Chinese names are a real thing.
• Don't pick something that sounds cool but means nothing.
• Avoid names that sound like famous people unless that's your intention.
• Common foreigner mistake: picking a name that sounds like a brand (e.g., 宝马 = BMW).
Better approach: Let your Chinese friends name you. They'll pick something that sounds natural and fits your personality.
My friend's experience:
After 6 months, his team gave him a "formal" Chinese name too: 陈安铎 (Chen Anduo).
Chen = a common surname that sounds like his last name
An = peace
Duo =铎, a type of ancient bell (sounds like part of his real name)
It was thoughtful. It took them weeks to come up with it.
Now he has two identities in China:
• Xiao Juan (his nickname, used by friends)
• Chen Anduo (his formal name, used in documents and formal settings)
"I thought being called 'Little Curls' was weird at first. Now I love it. It's the fastest way to know if someone considers me a friend or just a coworker. Friends call me Xiao Juan. Everyone else uses my formal name."
Anyone else been given a Chinese nickname? What is it and what does it mean?
Page:
[1]