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 Chinese today
The history of Chinese
Names and writing system
More about Chinese
The writing system
The different varieties of Chinese share a common writing system built around thousands of characters which have no relation to the spoken word. In the same way that, say, 5 is pronounced cinq in French, cinco in Spanish, and five in English, Chinese characters are pronounced quite differently in different parts of China.
Characters are written in a notional square. Children are taught how to write the various kinds of strokes - lines, sweeps, angles and hooks - and the basic sequence (left to right, top to bottom). In the People's Republic of China, characters have been simplified by reducing the number of strokes.
Attempts have also been made to introduce a simplified romanised writing system known as pinyin. Outside the People's Republic of China, however, the original characters are still used.
Traditionally, characters descended from the top right hand corner of the page. Today, there is increasing use of left to right directionally. Chinese names
The family name is followed by the personal name or names. If a child has two personal names, they should both be used. Children usually take their father's family name; married women usually retain their maiden name.  | Family name | Personal name(s) | | Father | Wang | Gok Feng | | Mother | Li | Hong | | Daughter | Wang | Pei | | Son | Wang | Wai Yip |
Many overseas Chinese adapt to Western naming practices. Thus Wang Wai Yip becomes Wai Yip Wang. Many Hong Kong Chinese also use an English personal name, e.g. Mary Wong.
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