<p>None of them is good enough.</p>

<p>竭心 is weird.</p>

<p>竭 means to exhaust as in 尽心竭力.</p>

<p>BUT while you can say 尽力, you cannot say 竭心, because you cannot exhaust your heart, while 尽 means to do most/to do to the greatest extent, so uou can say 尽心.</p>

<p>居心 is originally constructed the same as 属意, “to place your heart/mind at”</p>

<p>it cannot stand alone to mean anything:</p>

<p>居心叵测（hard to know where one's heart is placed—— harbouring unfathomable motives）</p>

<p>汝居心正，吾知免矣（《三国志》）（You place your heart upright, (so) I know (I) do not (have to worry about you)—— You are a upright man, ...）</p>

<p><strong>居心 do not mean a tranquil heart or mind</strong> Yabla is not always reliable.</p>

<p>When emphasized, 居心 is always a derogatory word:</p>

<p>其人有居心（The man is certainly placing his heart at something—— He is ill intended）</p>

<p>嘉鑫 a mediocre, common name.</p>

<p>酒神 a <strong>overly specific</strong> name of a <strong>foreign</strong> <strong>deity</strong>.</p>

<p>The three bold aspects should all be avoided in a Chinese name.</p>

<p>For example, the name 公明 is good, but no one of surname 赵 will use it as a name.（赵公明 is a deity）</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T04:12:37.977Z
2019-12-05T04:12:37.977Z
Toosky Hierot
<p>1, 2, 4 are all bad , 3 is ok. but sounds dated. If I heard any of those names, I would know they are not written by native Chinese</p>

<p>竭心 reminds people of 心脏衰竭 (heart failure)</p>

<p>居心 reminds people of 居心不良 (have bad intention)</p>

<p>嘉鑫 can be a real name, but 鑫 is an archaic character that almost no one know it.</p>

<p>酒神 means "god of wine" It is more a nickname or a title than a serious name. Also 酒神 pronounces like 走神 (distracted)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T04:15:57.973Z
2019-12-05T04:27:55.277Z
2019-12-05T04:27:55.277Z
Tang Ho
<p>The answers given so far should tell you the hidden dangers of amateurishly giving or making up names in Chinese, (hence my reluctance elsewhere to venture a recommendation), because of the multifarious meanings and connotations a single, (let alone two), Chinese word could potentially carry, and added to this is the real possibility that certain words may convey totally different / negative / hilarious meanings / connotations in a certain dialect, especially the notoriously multi-tonal Cantonese.</p>

<p>I totally agree that 1,2,4 could never ever be used as names for real persons; may be in a, say, Chinese martial arts novel, (武 侠 小 说), where dastardly, unsavory characterizations reflected in the names of characters are the norm. </p>

<p>Even option #3 sounds uncomfortable to a Chinese ear.</p>

<p>How about a seemingly innocent transliteration of a "western" name? Here too lie many hidden dangers. Just like every other people, making fun of people's names, especially among Chinese school children, is actually a favorite pastime, even considered an art form. </p>

<p>So, consider this name -- Michael Xi. Transliterated into Cantonese it sounds like, (mai gai sea), in mandarin 卖 鸡 屎, (seller of chicken excrement)     </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T09:41:05.410Z
2019-12-05T09:41:05.410Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>At work I've gained the nickname "Oreo Boy" because everyone's twice my age or older (hence the "boy") and I've got a noticeable habit of stuffing my face with junk from the vending machine (hence the "Oreo"). After some thought I decided my Chinese nickname and internet handle would be 小奥利奥 because it takes my IRL nickname into consideration but it's also a double entendre because of my mixed heritage. </p>

<p>I'm currently deciding on what I'd like my actual 名字 to be and I'd like to pick somebody's mind about my current selection (my IRL name is Justin):</p>

<ol>
<li><p>竭心 - jié xīn - "To do one's utmost." From what I understand, Chinese parents often pick positive and/or masculine words for their son's name and this one seems to fit that niche.</p></li>
<li><p>居心 - jū xīn - Acording to <a href="https://chinese.yabla.com/chinese-english-pinyin-dictionary.php?define=%E5%B1%85%E5%BF%83" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Yabla</a> this can mean both "a tranquil heart or mind" and "to harbor (evil) intentions", the former sounds like a proper name while the latter sounds chuuni (and yet I like it).</p></li>
<li><p>嘉鑫 - jiā xīn - Doesn't seem to translate to any specific phrase, just conveys the two ideas, "excellence" and "prosperity". From a brief search I found that this <a href="http://www.sohu.com/a/307741536_99996374" rel="nofollow noreferrer">is a legitimate name being used</a> but I'm not really fond of it.</p></li>
<li><p>酒神 - jiǔ shén - The Wine God of Roman mythology, Bacchus. Can't say anyone would ever take me seriously if I picked a name like that.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Just to clarify so that my question isn't marked as "opinion based" or "too broad", I am asking if any of the names I've listed could pass as an actual name in China, or if you heard these names would instantly be able to tell that it was a foreigner?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T03:07:31.200Z
How about the surname you plan to take?
Toosky Hierot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T03:19:33.727Z
@TooskyHierot I haven't given it any thought yet
小奥利奥
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T04:06:33.477Z
1, 2, 4 are all bad , 3 is ok. but sounds dated. If I heard any of those names, I would know they are not written by native Chinese
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T05:22:28.337Z
Agree with the answers. I think maybe you can name yourself 丁嘉？ 丁 is a common surname in China. 嘉 is a good word, and if you read backward, it sounds similar to Justin. If you want to add a surname to have 3 character name, you can also use 汀(ting1) instead of 丁. You can also play with 嘉 by changing it to 佳 or 加, all contains good meaning and will definitely be chosen as a Chinese name
sylvia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T06:15:42.630Z
I 100% sure 丁嘉 would be made fun of  as  家丁
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T12:25:01.617Z
justin, may i know your surname & preferences, do you have any siblings?
水巷孑蠻
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T16:41:46.370Z
@水巷孑蠻 I just want a name that sounds similar to Justin, that's how I came up with these 4 names that evidently aren't very good, I mixed and matched different characters that sound similar to my name. I have 7 siblings lol. I'm open to suggestions
小奥利奥
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T16:42:23.693Z
@水巷孑蠻 I never decided on a surname
小奥利奥
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-05T20:29:28.823Z
well, i would start from a surname + given name :)
水巷孑蠻
<names>
Which (if any) of these name ideas sound native? Which sound foreign?
# Which (if any) of these name ideas sound native? Which sound foreign?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-12-04)

At work I've gained the nickname "Oreo Boy" because everyone's twice my age or older (hence the "boy") and I've got a noticeable habit of stuffing my face with junk from the vending machine (hence the "Oreo"). After some thought I decided my Chinese nickname and internet handle would be username_0 because it takes my IRL nickname into consideration but it's also a double entendre because of my mixed heritage.

I'm currently deciding on what I'd like my actual 名字 to be and I'd like to pick somebody's mind about my current selection (my IRL name is Justin):

1. 竭心 - jié xīn - "To do one's utmost." From what I understand, Chinese parents often pick positive and/or masculine words for their son's name and this one seems to fit that niche.
2. 居心 - jū xīn - Acording to [Yabla](https://chinese.yabla.com/chinese-english-pinyin-dictionary.php?define=%E5%B1%85%E5%BF%83) this can mean both "a tranquil heart or mind" and "to harbor (evil) intentions", the former sounds like a proper name while the latter sounds chuuni (and yet I like it).
3. 嘉鑫 - jiā xīn - Doesn't seem to translate to any specific phrase, just conveys the two ideas, "excellence" and "prosperity". From a brief search I found that this [is a legitimate name being used](http://www.sohu.com/a/307741536_99996374) but I'm not really fond of it.
4. 酒神 - jiǔ shén - The Wine God of Roman mythology, Bacchus. Can't say anyone would ever take me seriously if I picked a name like that.

Just to clarify so that my question isn't marked as "opinion based" or "too broad", I am asking if any of the names I've listed could pass as an actual name in China, or if you heard these names would instantly be able to tell that it was a foreigner?

**Tags:** names

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How about the surname you plan to take?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I haven't given it any thought yet  
> **username_2**: 1, 2, 4 are all bad , 3 is ok. but sounds dated. If I heard any of those names, I would know they are not written by native Chinese  
> **username_3**: Agree with the answers. I think maybe you can name yourself 丁嘉？ 丁 is a common surname in China. 嘉 is a good word, and if you read backward, it sounds similar to Justin. If you want to add a surname to have 3 character name, you can also use 汀(ting1) instead of 丁. You can also play with 嘉 by changing it to 佳 or 加, all contains good meaning and will definitely be chosen as a Chinese name  
> **username_2**: I 100% sure 丁嘉 would be made fun of  as  家丁  
> **username_4**: justin, may i know your surname & preferences, do you have any siblings?  
> **username_0**: @username_4 I just want a name that sounds similar to Justin, that's how I came up with these 4 names that evidently aren't very good, I mixed and matched different characters that sound similar to my name. I have 7 siblings lol. I'm open to suggestions  
> **username_0**: @username_4 I never decided on a surname  
> **username_4**: well, i would start from a surname + given name :)  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-05. Score: 3

None of them is good enough.

竭心 is weird.

竭 means to exhaust as in 尽心竭力.

BUT while you can say 尽力, you cannot say 竭心, because you cannot exhaust your heart, while 尽 means to do most/to do to the greatest extent, so uou can say 尽心.

居心 is originally constructed the same as 属意, “to place your heart/mind at”

it cannot stand alone to mean anything:

居心叵测（hard to know where one's heart is placed—— harbouring unfathomable motives）

汝居心正，吾知免矣（《三国志》）（You place your heart upright, (so) I know (I) do not (have to worry about you)—— You are a upright man, ...）

**居心 do not mean a tranquil heart or mind** Yabla is not always reliable.

When emphasized, 居心 is always a derogatory word:

其人有居心（The man is certainly placing his heart at something—— He is ill intended）

嘉鑫 a mediocre, common name.

酒神 a **overly specific** name of a **foreign** **deity**.

The three bold aspects should all be avoided in a Chinese name.

For example, the name 公明 is good, but no one of surname 赵 will use it as a name.（赵公明 is a deity）


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-12-05. Score: 1

1, 2, 4 are all bad , 3 is ok. but sounds dated. If I heard any of those names, I would know they are not written by native Chinese

竭心 reminds people of 心脏衰竭 (heart failure)

居心 reminds people of 居心不良 (have bad intention)

嘉鑫 can be a real name, but 鑫 is an archaic character that almost no one know it.

酒神 means "god of wine" It is more a nickname or a title than a serious name. Also 酒神 pronounces like 走神 (distracted)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-12-05. Score: 0

The answers given so far should tell you the hidden dangers of amateurishly giving or making up names in Chinese, (hence my reluctance elsewhere to venture a recommendation), because of the multifarious meanings and connotations a single, (let alone two), Chinese word could potentially carry, and added to this is the real possibility that certain words may convey totally different / negative / hilarious meanings / connotations in a certain dialect, especially the notoriously multi-tonal Cantonese.

I totally agree that 1,2,4 could never ever be used as names for real persons; may be in a, say, Chinese martial arts novel, (武 侠 小 说), where dastardly, unsavory characterizations reflected in the names of characters are the norm.

Even option #3 sounds uncomfortable to a Chinese ear.

How about a seemingly innocent transliteration of a "western" name? Here too lie many hidden dangers. Just like every other people, making fun of people's names, especially among Chinese school children, is actually a favorite pastime, even considered an art form.

So, consider this name -- Michael Xi. Transliterated into Cantonese it sounds like, (mai gai sea), in mandarin 卖 鸡 屎, (seller of chicken excrement)


---

