Editing Chinese surname (section)

===Variations in romanization===
[[Transliteration of Chinese]] family names (see [[List of common Chinese surnames]]) into foreign languages poses a number of problems. Chinese surnames are shared by people speaking a number of dialects and languages which often have different pronunciations of their surnames. The spread of the [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese diaspora]] into all parts of the world resulted in the [[Romanization]] of the surnames based on different languages and Chinese dialects.  Countries that have adopted the system of Chinese surnames such as Vietnam and Korea also spell them according to their own pronunciations. As a result, it is common for the same surname to be [[Transcription (linguistics)|transcribed]] differently. For example, the [[Chen (surname)|Chen (陳) surname]] can appear as Chan ([[Cantonese]], e.g. [[Jackie Chan]]), Tan (Hokkien), Tang ([[Teochew dialect|Teochew]]), Chin ([[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]), Trần ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) and others; the [[Li (surname 李)|Li (李) surname]] may appear as Lee (an example is [[Lee Kuan Yew]]), the [[Zhou (surname)|Zhou (周) surname]] can appear as Chou, Chew, Jew and many others (e.g. [[Wakin Chau]] and [[Jimmy Choo]]); while the [[Zheng (surname)|Zheng surname]] (鄭/郑) can be romanized into Chang, Cheng, Chung, Teh, Tay, Tee, Tsang, Zeng or Zheng (in [[pinyin]], Chang, Cheng, Zheng and Zeng are all different names). In certain dialects, different surnames could be [[homonyms]] so it is common for family names to appear ambiguous when transliterated.  Translating Chinese surnames from foreign transliteration often presents ambiguity. For example, the surname "[[List of surnames romanized Li|Li]]" are all Mandarin-based pinyin transliteration for the surnames Lí ([[Lí (surname 黎)|黎]]); Lǐ ([[Li (surname 李)|李]], 理 and 里);  and Lì ([[Li (surname 酈)|郦/酈]], [[Li (surname 栗)|栗]], [[Li (surname 厲)|厉/厲]], and [[Li (surname 利)|利]]) depending on the [[Tone (linguistics)|tone]] which is usually omitted in foreign transliterations.<ref name=oxford />

Due to the different pronunciations and romanizations, it is sometimes easy to tell whether a Chinese person has origins in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, or Taiwan. Generally, people of Mainland descent will have their surnames and names in [[pinyin]]. Those from Taiwan use [[Wade-Giles]] romanization. People from Southeast Asia (mainly Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) and Hong Kong usually base their romanization of surnames and names on the [[Min Chinese|Min]], [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] and [[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]] languages. The younger generation from Singapore often has their surname in dialect ((Hokkien, Teochew, Hainanese, Cantonese, and Hakka) and given names in English, Mandarin, or both. 

Some people use non-standard romanizations, e.g. the Hong Kong [[media mogul]] 邵逸夫 [[Run Run Shaw]]'s surname 邵 is spelt as Shaw (Shao in pinyin).

The use of different systems of romanization based on different Chinese language variants from 1900~1970 also contributed to the variations.

Some examples:
{| class="wikitable"
! Written form !! [[Pinyin]]<br />(Mainland China) !! [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]<br />(Vietnam) !! [[Wade-Giles]]<br />(Taiwan) !! [[Hokkien]]  / [[Teochew dialect|Teochew]] / [[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]]<br />(Indonesia/Malaysia/Singapore/Philippines) !! [[Yue Chinese|Cantonese]] <br />(Hong Kong/Macau/Singapore/Malaysia) !! Surname meaning / origin <br />(some surnames have multiple origins, provided below are only one of many)
|-
| 陈 / 陳 || Chen || Trần || Ch'en || Tan / Tan,Tang / Chin, Tjhin || Chan || Vintage, [[State of Chen]]
|-
| 关 / 關 || Guan  || Quản || Kuan || Kwang,Kuang / Kweng,Kueng / Kan || Kwan || gate, gateway, mountain pass, originated as a title for guards in mountain passes
|-
| 何 || He  || Ho || Ho || Ho,Hoe,Hoh /Ho / Ho || Ho || carry; what; how; why; which, [[Han (Chinese surname)|Han]](韩) misheard as He(何) in [[Jianghuai mandarin|Jianghuai]] Dialect
|-
| 黄 / 黃 || Huang  || Hoang || Huang || Ng,Uy,Ooi,Oei,Wee / Ng,Uy,Ooi,Oei,Wee / Wong,Bong || Wong || Yellow, [[State of Huang]]
|-
| 简 / 簡 || Jian || Giản || Chien || Kan / Kam,Kang / Kan || Kan/Gan || Simple, descendants of [[Jin (Chinese state)|State of Jin]] doctor Xu Jianbo (续简伯) 
|-
| 金 || Jin || Kim || Chin || Kim / Kim / Kim / Kiem || Kam || Gold, one of the five phases (metal) in [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|Wuxing]] Philosophy
|-
| 林 || Lin || Lâm || Lin || Lim / Lim / Lim / Liem || Lam || Forest, Quan, son of [[Bi Gan]] was born in the woods during his family's exile, thus bestowed
by [[King Wu of Zhou|Wu of Zhou]] with the surname Lin
|-
| 王 || Wang || Vương || Wang ||Ong / Heng / Wung / Wong|| Wong || King or Prince, Used mainly by descendants of royalties
|-
| 吴 / 吳 || Wu  || Ngô || Wu || Goh,Go / Goh / Ng || Ng || [[State of Wu]]
|-
| 许 / 許 || Xu || Hứa || Hsü || Koh,Kho,Ko,Khaw,Khor / Koh,Kho,Ko,Khouw,Khor / Hee,See || Hui/Hua || To allow, State of Xu
|-
| 张 / 張 || Zhang  || Trương || Chang/Zhang || Teo,Teow,Teoh,Tieu,Tiew / Teo,Teow,Teoh,Thio / Tjong,Chong || Cheung/Cheong || Verb, to draw a [[Bow (weapon)|bow]], surname bestowed upon fletchers by the [[Yellow Emperor]]
|-
| 赵 / 趙 || Zhao  || Triệu || Chao || Teow,Teo,Tio / Teh,Tay,Tey / Chao ||  Chiu/Chiew || [[State of Zhao]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Lindict/Lindict.php?query=%bb%af&category=wholerecord|title=ㄓㄠˋ [zhao4] .|website=Humanum.arts.cuhk.edu.hk|access-date=11 November 2017}}</ref>
|}

Malaysia/Singapore/Indonesia/Philippines: various spellings are used depending on name origin.

See [[List of common Chinese surnames]] for the different spellings and more examples.