Misplaced Pages

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This page documents an English Misplaced Pages naming conventions. Editors should generally follow it, though exceptions may apply. Substantive edits to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on this guideline's talk page.

These guidelines mainly deal with the systematic naming of China-related articles. Please follow the conventions below. If you disagree with any of the conventions, please discuss in the talk page. Also

• see Misplaced Pages:Naming conventions for naming conventions in general
• see Misplaced Pages:Manual of Style for China-related articles for the style of China-related articles.
• see Misplaced Pages:History standards for China-related articles for notes on the style of history of China-related articles
• see Misplaced Pages:Chinese wikipedians' notice board for ongoing news and tasks relevant to China-related topics.

Please refer to the talk page for discussion before setting these conventions as standards.

Characters

Any encyclopedia entries whose titles are Chinese names should include both the Chinese characters and the Hanyu Pinyin representation for their names in the first sentence.

Chinese characters on the English Misplaced Pages should be encoded using HTML entities with Unicode numbers. Big5 and GB encoded characters are acceptable as a draft for people who have no other means of entering characters but should be converted to Unicode in HTML character entities when it is possible. After a Chinese text has been converted to Unicode, the Big5 or GB versions should be removed.

Romanization

Main discussion: Talk:Transcription of Chinese

Romanization presents some difficult issues in that it is a highly political issue. The most often used romanization is pinyin. Though many outside of the People's Republic of China dislike it because of its association with that government, pinyin is the most standard way of romanizing Mandarin Chinese words.

In general, Chinese entries should be in Hanyu Pinyin. Exceptions would include:

• When there is a more popularly used form in English (such as Taoism)
• When the subject of the entry is likely to object to romanization in pinyin.

When an entry is not in pinyin form, a redirect to the article from the pinyin form could be helpful.

Apostrophes

Apostrophes are crucial in both Hanyu Pinyin and Wade-Giles. In Wade-Giles, an apostrophe is a part of the syllable, while in Pinyin it serves as a syllable delimiter.

The Library of Congress Guidelines give the following rules for using the apostrophe in Hanyu Pinyin:

1. Whenever a syllable begins with a, o, or e, and follows another syllable: Běi'ān (北安), Cháng'é (嫦娥), Jiàn'ōu (建瓯).
2. Whenever a syllable ends with -n and the next syllable begins with g-: Zhāng Zhàn'gāng (张占钢) .

The apostrophe is required wherever there might be ambiguity in word boundaries. Xī'ān (西安), for example, might be interpreted as a single syllable xiān (先) if the apostrophe and the tones were not present. Fǎn'gǎn (反感) on the other hand might be confused with fāng'àn (方案), therefore the need of the second rule. Note that not every g- followed by -n creates ambiguity, as in jiàn'guó (建国) where uo is not a legal syllable. Some people apply the apostrophe in these cases nevertheless, for the sake of clarity. Also, exceptions to this rule exist even when ambiguity is possible, especially in proper nouns, for example, Hénán (河南). The second rule is not a strict rule, so you might want to do a google test to determine which usage is more popular.

Hyphens

Copied from talk page

According to the Library of Congress Guidelines for Hanyu Pinyin:

• Join, without hyphen or space, multi-character proper nouns, for example:
  • Person's name
    • Family/clan name (姓)
    • Given name (名)
    • Style/Courtesy name (字)
    • Pseudonym
    • Buddhist name
  • Placename
    • But separate the following from the placename proper:
      • Jurisdictional name, such as 市 shi4 "city"
      • Topographical name, such as 山 shan1 "mountain"
  • Era name
  • Ethnic group name
  • Religion name
  • Language name

Names

Personal names in Chinese, unlike Western names, present the family/clan name first. Unlike other instances where this occurs, it is standard practice in English to also present the family name first (for example, Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping). Chinese names should be in Hanyu Pinyin unless there is a more common name used in English (for example, Chiang Kai-shek, Sun Yat-sen) or when the subject of the article is likely to prefer a non-pinyin phonetization as is likely the case with personages from Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc. (for example, Lee Teng-hui, Tung Chee Hwa).

The encyclopedia should reference the name more familiar to most English readers. For most historical figures the means that encyclopedia entry should reference the Chinese name rather than the English name, with a redirect from the English name. However, there are exceptions for figures whose English name is more familiar (such as Confucius) and for figures who were raised in non-Chinese societies and whose Chinese names are unfamilar (such as Vera Wang and Maya Lin).

Another special case is for a figure whose Chinese name is familiar but used English ordering (for example, Wen Ho Lee). In this case, the primary entry should be under the English ordering with a redirect from the Chinese ordering.

When using pinyin for a Chinese name, pinyin spacing and capitalization conventions should be used. This includes keeping the family name separate and the given name capitalized with the different characters not indicated by spacing, hyphenization, or capitalization. There should be no space between the first and second given names. There are suitations when two pinyin syllables are joined together, they become ambiguous, for example jingao can be jing ao or jin gao; xian can be xian or xi an. The pinyin convention adds a ' symbol to resolve ambiguity, for example, jin'gao vs jing'ao. When using Wade-Giles, a dash should be put between the first and last given names, and the second given name should not be capitalised. (for example, Lee Teng-hui, not Lee Teng Hui)

Names of groups

The main entry for a Chinese group should be under the name most familiar to English speakers. In some cases, this will be the translated name (for example, Communist Party of China). In other cases, this will be the transliterated name (Kuomintang and Falun Gong). When the name is transliterated, the name should use the spelling conventionally used by English speakers (for example, Kuomintang). Where this is not the pinyin transliteration there should be a redirect to the article from the pinyin name.

When a group uses a translated name, the Chinese characters should always be included. For example, this is especially needed in the entry for President of the People's Republic of China because the name used for President (zhuxi) is not the standard term used for President.

Similarly Chinese characters should be included for the Democratic Progressive Party because the standard term used for the party (min-jin-dang) is a contraction of the full name (min-zhu jin-bu dang). Characters should also be included for National People's Congress because there are a number of different Chinese terms to translate Congress, and the entry should identify which one is used.

Names of emperors

Please see Misplaced Pages:History standards for China-related articles.

The general principle is to use the name which is most familiar to Chinese readers. This violates the Misplaced Pages principle that the name most familiar to English readers should be used, because English readers are not usually familiar with any of the emperors.

Summary of principles used:

1. Emperors before the Tang Dynasty: use posthumous names, such as Emperor Wu of Han (漢武帝).
2. Emperors of the Tang, Song, Liao and Jin (1115-1234) dynasties : use temple names, such as Emperor Taizong of Tang (唐太宗).
3. Emperors of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty: use era names (same as reign names), such as Kangxi Emperor (康熙帝).

The above is a rough guide and there are many exceptions. See Table of Chinese monarchs for a complete list of all Chinese monarchs, and follow the conventions given there.

Because these are reign names and not personal names, the correct phrasing for emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty is the "Kangxi Emperor" rather than "Emperor Kangxi".

Place names

Mainland China place names should be in Hanyu Pinyin. Place names in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and overseas (such as Singapore) should be romanized in whatever way is commonly used for those places. Same goes for non-Han Chinese place names. So use Hohhot, Kashgar, and Shigatse, not Huhehaote, Kashi and Rikaze. (呼和浩特、喀什、日喀则)

These conventions are guidelines only, and there are examples of exceptions, so please use your discretion. As always, all discussion is welcome on the talk page.

See also the following official guidelines for spelling Chinese place names in Hanyu Pinyin: http://202.205.177.129/moe-dept/yuxin/content/gfbz/scanning/gfhbz/gfbz11.htm

Topographical

Jurisdictional

Historical

Established translations elsewhere

Here are some established translations, officially used in China or frequently employed in Sinology literature.

• Political divisions of China
• Political divisions of the Republic of China
• History of the political divisions of China
• Classical political divisions

Transportation

Use the common English name of an expressway, highway, railway, railway station, or airport, if it can be determined. Otherwise, follow these patterns:

As expressways and railways follow the {abr.abr. Expressway/Railway} format, ex (Jingshi Expressway for 京石高速公路), use abbreviations of the first and second cities as one word, followed by Expressway/Railway, please use first capital letter format.

• Jingcheng Expressway (京承高速公路) for Beijing–Chengde
• Shitai Expressway (石太高速公路) for Shijiazhuang–Taiyuan

Major railways follow the same format:

• Jingjiu Railway (京九铁路) for Beijing–Kowloon
• Jingguang Railway (京广铁路) for Beijing–Guanzhou

As do major Highways:

• Ninghuai Highway (宁淮公路) for Ningbo–Huainan

National Highways that are numbered simply follow the format {China National Highway }:

• China National Highway 102 (102国道), to be abbreviated with G{no. of highway}, ex. G105 with redirect.

Railway Station articles should have the city's name (or in some cases the station's unique name— for example, 北京丰台火车站) followed by a direction if applicable (North, South etc.), then :

• Beijing Railway Station (北京站)
• Beijing West Railway Station (北京西站)
• Fengtai Railway Station (in Beijing) (北京丰台火车站)

Airport articles should have the city's name followed by the if applicable, followed by or for domestic:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场)
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (上海浦东国际机场)
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场)

Culture

For the cuisine of China, use established terms that are understandable. Try to avoid abbreviations.

• Sichuan cuisine or Szechuan cuisine (川菜) not Chuancai or Chuan cuisine
• Cantonese cuisine (粤菜) not Yuecai or Yue cuisine
• Mandarin cuisine or Beijing cuisine (京菜) not Jingcai or Jing cuisine

For the various Chinese operas or other performance arts, use an established translation, or, if that is not available (which is usual), use pinyin.

• Beijing opera (京剧) not Jingju
• Pingju (评剧) not Hebei Opera (that term is also used for Hebei Bangzi 河北梆子)

And as always, work individual articles out on a case by case basis rather than let these conventions constrain you!

Language/dialect NPOV

The status of the various the various spoken varieties of Chinese is disputed. They are often regarded as dialects of each other, but they satisfy the criteria of being separate languages by most standards, including the lingustic ones of mutual intelligibility, and differences in grammar, phonology, and vocabulary. Due to their differences, and the linguistic classifications, and for practical reasons, the separate varieties should be de facto treated as separate languages, for the purposes of classification, listing, categorization, and terminology.

• Thus, in lists or categories such as "Number of speakers by language" or "Films by language", it is appropriate to list these varieties separately.
• Top level divisions of Chinese (Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Hakka, Min, etc) should be listed separately as top-level languages in lists or categories by language.
• When describing loanwords, terms, placenames, or personal names, it can be appropriate to include the names, characters, and/or romanizations from the originating language or dialect. Including the Shanghainese term would be appropriate for a placename in Shanghai or a Shanghainese dish; including the Taiwanese names for the same would not.

Nonetheless, despite their status, linguistic classifications do not necessarily correspond with traditional Chinese classification of these varieties, and viewing all these as part of a single language is an an important part of the linguistic and cultural self-identity of many Chinese. Therefore, for NPOV purposes, avoid explicitly naming them as either languages or dialects. Simply use the name itself if there is no ambiguity. If there is, then use "xxx (linguistics)" if there's dispute over whether to call it a language or dialect — this includes all the first-level divisions, the second-level divisions of Min, and Taiwanese. Use "xxx dialect" otherwise:

• Mandarin (linguistics) (北方话)
• Standard Mandarin (普通话/國語)
• Cantonese (linguistics) (粤語)
• Min Nan (閩南語)
• Taiwanese (linguistics) (台語)

In such articles, mention should be made of the language/dialect controversy. The issues over identification of the varieties of Chinese should be mentioned in the first-level divisions. However, the existence of this controversy shouldn't preclude them from being named as de-facto languages.

Political NPOV

Misplaced Pages entries should avoid taking sides on controversial sovereignty issues such as the political status of Taiwan and Tibet. Although the United Nations and most sovereign states in the world have recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole government of China, Misplaced Pages should reflect the neutral reality and not use the term "China" to coincide with any particular state or government. In particular, the word "China" (in a political, diplomatic or national sense referring to current affairs) should not be used to be synonymously with areas under the current administration (government) of the People's Republic of China i.e. (geographically) within Mainland China. (Historical and such 'old-name' Geographic and political references before 1945—1947 excepted.)

As a general rule of thumb, the official political terms "People's Republic of China" or "PRC" and "Republic of China" or "ROC" should be used in political contexts (that is, to describe the existing governments or regimes) rather than the imprecise and politically charged terms "China" and "Taiwan." For example, "Hu Jintao is the President of the People's Republic of China" is preferred over "Hu Jintao is the President of China." Likewise, one should write "one must be an ROC citizen to vote in the ROC presidential election" as opposed to "one must be a Taiwanese citizen to vote in the Taiwanese presidential election."

One subtle yet important point: Misplaced Pages treats the Republic of China as a sovereign state with equal status with the People's Republic of China, yet does not address whether they are considered separate nations. Taiwan should not be described either as an independent nation or as a part of the People's Republic of China. Misplaced Pages should merely state the de facto situation that Taiwan is governed by an independent government/state/regime called the "Republic of China." When it is necessary to describe the political status of Taiwan, special note should be made of Taiwan's complex position. The term "province of Taiwan" can be offensive and should only be used when attributed to its source or referring specifically to the existing division under the ROC (for example, "James Soong was the only popularly elected governor of Taiwan Province").

For organizations and international events, such as the Olympic Games or APEC, official terms should be used. In the case of the Olympics, one refers to the Chinese Taipei team, instead of the "Taiwanese team" or the "ROC team." Special care should be taken to put these terms in context—the "China" team in the 1952 Olympics, for example, should not be called the "Chinese Taipei" team as the latter term did not exist yet.

Generally following the established convention of alphabetizing countries under their common names, the Republic of China (i.e. Taiwan) should be alphabetized under "T" while the People's Republic of China should be alphabetized under "C". The former can be listed, depending on context, either as "] (Taiwan)" or "Taiwan (])".

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The term "mainland China" is a term which can be used when a comparison is to be made with Taiwan for non-political purposes. Hong Kong and Macau are generally not considered part of Mainland China, though under the jurisdiction of the PRC. Thus, it is more appropriate to write "many tourists from Hong Kong and Taiwan are visiting mainland China" than "many tourists from Hong Kong and Taiwan are visiting China" as the latter could imply that Hong Kong and Taiwan are not part of China. "China proper" is a controversial term used refer to parts of Mainland China except Tibet, Xinjiang, and other regions associated with non-Han ethnicities. Although the use of the term "Manchuria" is considered by some to be somewhat objectionable when used in Chinese, it is largely considered a non-political and non-objectionable term when used in English.

Also note that there are potential landmines when using the term "Chinese." In particular, some find a distinction between "Chinese" and "Tibetans" or between "Chinese" and "Taiwanese" to be objectionable and the terms "Han Chinese"/"Tibetans" and "Mainland Chinese"/"Taiwanese" are more politically neutral and use will depend on the context. For example, "Mainland Chinese businessmen look forward to meeting their Taiwanese counterparts" is more accurate and acceptable than with the word "Mainland" left out.

The term "Mainlander" poses some issues. It is sometimes ambiguous whether this is referring to a resident of Mainland China or a member of the group that fled with the KMT to Taiwan in 1949. In referring to the latter group, the name is mildly objectionable when used in English and strongly objectionable when translated literally in Chinese. Preferred unambigous names for the two groups are "Mainland Chinese" and "Wai sheng ren".

Hakka is the preferred name for that group even though the Mandarin word for that is something completely different phonetically.

In general, one should avoid using the term "Chinese" to be synonymous with the spoken Mandarin Chinese.

• Misplaced Pages naming conventionss
• Misplaced Pages naming conventions