Why do people in China use English names?

Why do China people need English names? Hu When I first forced myself to answer this question, I was still studying in Britain. I had an English name at that time, Tom. But I decided to "abolish" my English name. Because if I look around China students, from Alfred to John, from Margaret to Jennifer ... if I didn't use Chinese names, there wouldn't be any China people using Chinese names on this campus. Like many other students in China, my original intention of giving myself an English name is very vague. It is a bit far-fetched to say that it is to show respect for English culture ―― we have shown enough respect, and people in English-speaking countries don't need our extra attention, just as they don't need Japanese, Egyptians, Indians and Moroccans to take English names to show respect. For fun? I believe this reason accounts for a lot. After all, most people have never given themselves a name since they were born. But it would be fun to give yourself a Tibetan name. Why do you want to take an English name? Because we are learning English! Hmm. That's a good answer But please tell me why so many Europeans learn English and don't give themselves English names. Probably because they have no colonial history, their national self-esteem is very strong. Well, the answer is uncertain, but it makes sense. But why do the nationals of India, Pakistan and some Arab countries who used to be British colonies seldom use English names (as can be seen from their overseas students)? Probably because of religious influence. (I already feel desperate myself) Well, that makes sense. But some former British colonies in Africa have no real religion, and their international students also speak English, but rarely use English names. The same thing happened to international students in former French colonies ―― they spoke French, but they didn't use French names. Why is this happening? But why is it the opposite among students in China? It seems that there is no satisfactory answer after further investigation. Or does the real answer come from the unconscious, but your own consciousness is afraid to face it? Is it because it is so popular? Well, that's a good reason. Since everyone is doing it, we must keep pace with the times. The next question is, why is it so popular? The popularity of English names by mainlanders is of course directly influenced by the popularity of Hong Kong people ―― this is a matter of experience. The popularity of Hong Kong people seems to be a manifestation of colonial culture. But it is not enough to explain it as a manifestation of colonial culture-the reason has been said before. Then it is inevitable to guess that this may be the product of Hong Kong's survival in the gap between two cultures and having to compromise with a strong culture. Politically and economically, Hong Kong people in a weak position relied heavily on British colonists, especially in the early days. Culturally, Hong Kong people, as tiny "abandoned children", do not undertake the morality of "protecting species and education" to protect their ancestral culture (although they do so admirably). So their compromise is reasonable and even necessary. Under this premise, the popular phenomenon of taking English names is also easy to understand. However, the popularity of China (mainland) people lacks this premise, so this popularity looks more like the product of collective unconsciousness. There is a language school in the city where I applied to study. Its name is Hope. One day, a female English teacher (British) politely and unquestionably "asked" China students to use English names, but other Asian students in my class did not have this honor. Why? Because Chinese names are hard to remember? I really don't see where Matsumoto is easy to remember, but Japanese students can use it like this; I don't see what FaizMukherjee is easy to remember. Indian students can use it like this. If I had been there, I would have asked the teacher why, so as to know what assumptions were hidden behind this request for China people. People like me are absent, so China students acquiesce in the collective unconscious. It may be understandable that individuals use English names (just as Fei Zhengqing, Pearl Buck, Needham, Ma Yueran and Chennault use Chinese names because their personal fate is closely linked with China), but as a nation, if the younger generation regards this as a fashion, it is really a funny and strange phenomenon. So I will tell my students in the English class in New Oriental that if you don't worry about your Chinese name, don't give yourself another English name. The former is at least meaningful, and there may be stories behind it, while the latter is mostly just arty, if it is elegant. Some people say that the adoption of English names reflects the open mind of China people, which is a way to connect with the international community, or at least a reasonable expression that China is in the era of globalization. Wait, please note that globalization is not cultural integration, but cultural diversity. Replacing one's Chinese name with a unique birthmark of China culture and an "international" (not to mention colonial) English name is precisely the obliteration of diversity. The so-called exchange culture is not only to learn the culture of other countries, but also to spread the local culture to other countries. What can we talk about when we come and go? Many foreign students or domestic students only see the former, so they will ignore the name, the minimum medium to spread local culture. Large-scale neglect forms a unique collective unconsciousness. Knowing a person begins with his name, and knowing a nation can be seen from the names of her nationals. Many students in China could have spread China culture with their real names, but they gave up this opportunity and became one of the unconscious people. My criticism of this phenomenon is not a bird's eye view of myself from the moral high ground-as I said before, I am not "innocent" myself. My criticism comes from my reflection on my unconscious behavior, and I can't consciously echo it after I realize the reason. I express my values through this difference, and if it is accepted by others, it may change others in this respect. In the long run, only when this change becomes a general trend can our nation get rid of the unconscious inferiority complex, which is one of the national characteristics of China people. __________________________________________________