Twelve Chinese Name Characters Teachers Often Misread
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
As the new school year begins, school leaders have compiled another list of difficult Chinese characters commonly found in personal names and surnames after earlier reports on hard-to-read student names. The latest list explains the correct Cantonese readings, meanings and classical references for 12 uncommon characters, including Yi (沂), Jun (濬) and Yong (顒). A separate school-based account says teachers are increasingly tripped up by unusual names such as Wong Hou (黃鎬) and Leung Wai (梁翽), prompting some schools to ask parents for pronunciation guides or even audio recordings.
Key Points
- Sing Tao reported on September 11 that a principal shared 12 commonly misread characters used in given names or surnames, drawing on the Chinese University of Hong Kong Cantonese pronunciation database.
- The list says Gam (淦) is usually read gaam3, with gam3 also recorded; Jun (濬) is read zeon3, with seon3 also noted, and is linked to depth and clear-sighted wisdom.
- Other highlighted readings include Yi (沂) as ji4, Yong (顒) as jung4, Yiu (垚) as jiu4, Sik (湜) as zik6, Wat (聿) as jyut6 or leot6, and Biu (猋) as biu1.
- The same list says Pok (朴) is read pok3 in names but piu4 as a surname, So (惢) is read so2, and the rare surname Hyun (禤) is read hyun1.
- A September 12 education column said teachers had misread Wong Hou (黃鎬) as “Wong Gou” and Leung Wai (梁翽) as “Leung Yu”, while noting Wai (翽) should be read wai3 and Gwai or Gai (銈) as gai1 or gwai1.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong schools, unusual name characters can create awkward first-day classroom moments and even administrative problems when computer systems cannot display rare glyphs correctly. The reports also point to a tension between parents’ wish for distinctive, auspicious names and the practical need for names that teachers and school systems can handle accurately.