6
0Welcome back to The Chinese Surfing Podcast! Today is the first episode of our brand‑new series – “Foreign Student Interviews & Chinese Showcase” . Our first guest is Bruno, a Brazilian student who has been learning Chinese for nearly seven years. He loves reading, music, photography, and even plays the guqin.
In this episode, Bruno shares his fascinating journey of Chinese names. His first Chinese name was 王爵 (Wáng Jué) – a cool name that means “duke”. But he noticed that Chinese friends rarely called him by that name. Why? Later, with the help of AI and friends, he found a new name: 王魏澜 (Wáng Wèilán) , a poetic name that also matches his Bazi (Chinese astrological elements) which said he needed water and wood elements. The name sounds beautiful and feels natural to use in daily life.
👂Bruno talks about:
Why Bruno’s first Chinese name “Wang Jue” made his Chinese friends awkward
How AI and Bazi helped Bruno pick his new name “Wang Weilan”
A funny story at the Chinese customs when his old name caused confusion
Practical tips for foreign learners to choose a suitable Chinese name
This heartwarming and humorous conversation is great for intermediate to advanced learners. You’ll learn how to talk about names, personal preferences, and cultural perceptions in Chinese. And if you’re thinking about your own Chinese name, this episode will give you great ideas.
If you’re looking for intensive class in Hangzhou, summer camp in Hangzhou, or HSK preparation in Hangzhou, Chinese Surfing is here to help.
🎧 Timestamps & Key Takeaways
– Opening
Daisy introduces the new series and welcomes Bruno, a Brazilian student who loves Chinese culture and plays the guqin.
– Bruno’s formal self‑introduction
“大家好，我叫王魏澜。我来自巴西，学习中文已经快要到七年了。”
📖Keywords:
介绍 (jièshào) – to introduce
名字 (míngzi) – name
巴西 (Bāxī) – Brazil
学习中文 (xuéxí zhōngwén) – to learn Chinese
– How Bruno got his first Chinese name: 王爵 (Wáng Jué)
He chose the surname 王(wáng) because he was born in the Year of the Tiger (the tiger’s forehead has a “王” marking).
爵(jué) came from his Portuguese surname meaning “duke”.
A teacher at Nanjing Normal University suggested 王爵.
Although Bruno loved the name, Chinese friends felt awkward calling him “Wáng Jué”.
📖Keywords:
属虎 (shǔ hǔ) – born in the Year of the Tiger
姓 (xìng) – surname
公爵 (gōngjué) – duke
称号 (chēnghào) – title / appellation
– Why he decided to change his name
Chinese friends rarely used his Chinese name; they preferred his English name. Bruno realized that a royal title might sound too strange in everyday conversation.
📖 Keywords:
朋友 (péngyou) – friend
换名字 (huàn míngzi) – to change one’s name
尴尬 (gāngà) – awkward
– How Bruno found his new name: 王魏澜 (Wáng Wèilán)
He still wanted to keep 王 as his surname.
Using AI to check his Bazi (Chinese zodiac elements), he learned he “lacks water and wood”.
He loves the color blue. His friend suggested finding a name that sounds like “lánsè” (blue) with water and wood radicals.
They found 魏澜:
魏wèi contains the “wood” radical (from 禾/grass), also has the “ghost” radical (鬼) – perfect for his love of ghost stories. 魏wèi is also the name of an ancient Chinese kingdom (Wei State), which appeals to his interest in Chinese history.
澜lán contains the “water” radical (氵), balancing his lack of water.
The pronunciation Wèilán is a homophone of 蔚蓝 (deep sky blue), his favorite color.
The name is poetic, personal, and perfectly suited to him.
📖 Keywords:
八字 (bāzì) – Bazi (Chinese astrological birth chart)
五行 (wǔxíng) – five elements
偏旁 (piānpáng) – radical (of a character)
谐音 (xiéyīn) – homophone
蔚蓝 (wèilán) – deep sky blue
– A funny story
When returning to China, a customs officer saw his old name 王爵 on the passport and asked about it. Bruno explained he had changed his name, and the officer said, “That’s a good change.”
📖 Keywords:
海关 (hǎiguān) – customs
护照 (hùzhào) – passport
改名字 (gǎi míngzi) – to change one’s name
– How people use his new name
Now his Chinese friends and even his squash coach call him 王魏澜 (or simply 魏澜). He says happily: “我的名字现在有用了!”(My Chinese name is useful now!)
– Bruno’s tips for choosing a Chinese name
Search online (Baidu or AI) to make sure the name has no bad meanings.
Be creative – find characters that suit your personality, not just a phonetic match.
Ask Chinese friends or colleagues for their opinions.
Try using Bazi (Chinese astrological elements) – it’s very “Chinese” and fun.
– Closing reflections
Bruno thanks Daisy for believing in his Chinese. He encourages everyone: even if your Chinese is not perfect, be brave and do what you want to do.
– Daisy’s invitation
Daisy invites listeners to join the podcast to share their own Chinese stories. She also promotes Chinese Surfing’s summer courses and HSK preparation classes – available both online and in Hangzhou.
💬 Join the Conversation
Do you have a Chinese name? How did you choose it?
Have you ever felt that your Chinese name was awkward or too “special”?
Would you consider using Bazi or AI to help pick a new name?
Leave a comment on your podcast platform or share your story in your Chinese learning group.
📩 Learn Chinese with Chinese Surfing
Interested in intensive class in Hangzhou, summer camp in Hangzhou, or HSK preparation in Hangzhou? We offer both online and in‑person courses.
Contact us:
📧 Email: info@chinese-surfing.com
💬 WeChat: Chinesesurfing2
Follow us:
Instagram & Xiaohongshu: Chinese Surfing
🎁 Free learning materials: 👉 www.chinese-surfing.com
📜 Full PDF script of this episode? 📧 daisy@chinese-surfing.com
Stay tuned for another inspiring story!
