Since Ming is actually Yao's first name, shouldn't his initials be M.Y.? This is important distinction since we often refer to players by their initials (SF, MJ, LJ, KG, etc.). Can you hear Gene Petersen yelling "M.Y., oh, M.Y." after a slam?
i think we will say yao ming, look at wang. His first name is wang, and last is zhi zhi. And zhi zhi is on the back of his jersey..i think
Per Clutch's request, I think this would count as a repeat thread that should go in "Did you notice Yao Ming's Jersey."
Why don't we just respect the Chinese culture and accept the fact that they put their family name first. Lets stop trying to change their culture with the ridiculous suggestions that we call him Ming Yao or that his initials are M.Y. His initials are Y.M. and his name is Yao Ming.
I didn't read all of Yetti's posts, just the first couple or so. My apologies if this is a duplicate post -- I was just wondering about the initials and didn't relate it to the other post.
If his name is Yao Ming then according to American tradition his initials are YM First name Yao first initial Y. Last name Ming last initial M. It's not complicated.
Crash, Redao may have more cultural insight (Yao appears to be Ming's last name). Incidentally, Redao, could you please translate your sig?
Redao just said that there is no such thing as initials in China and if Redao is Chinese then I will take my word for what is correct instead of someone that has not been exposed to our culture as much as me. True or False: Redao said that there is no such thing as initials in China? The family name is the first name in the Chinese culture? Yao is the family name, which also happens to be his first name? In America the firtst name gets the first initial, the second name the second and the third name gets the third initial? If you answered true to all of these questions, as you should have then Yao Ming's name is...surprise! Yao Ming and his initials are (you are gonna love this one) Y.M. It's not a hard concept...really.
Ming is not his first name Yao is his first name. Look on the back of his jersey or any newspaper article. His name is Yao Ming. In China the surname or family name is the first name unlike here in America. Stop making this harder than it is. First name Yao last name Ming. Seems pretty simple. In Chinese culture the surname is the FIRST name in our culture the surname is the last name. Main Entry: 1first Pronunciation: 'f&rst Function: adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English fyrst; akin to Old High German furist first, Old English faran to go -- more at FARE Date: before 12th century : preceding all others in time, order, or importance: as a : EARLIEST b : being the lowest forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle c : having the highest or most prominent part among a group of similar voices or instruments Main Entry: 2first Function: adverb Date: before 12th century 1 a : before another in time, space, or importance b : in the first place -- often used with of all c : for the first time 2 : in preference to something else : SOONER Main Entry: 3first Function: noun Date: 13th century 1 -- see NUMBER table 2 : something that is first: as a : the first occurrence or item of a kind b : the first forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle c : the highest or chief voice or instrument of a group d : an article of commerce of the finest grade e : the winning or highest place in a competition, examination, or contest 3 : FIRST BASE - at first : at the beginning : INITIALLY Main Entry: airman first class Function: noun Date: 1952 : an enlisted man in the air force ranking above an airman and below a sergeant Main Entry: first aid Function: noun Date: 1882 : emergency care or treatment given to an ill or injured person before regular medical aid can be obtained Main Entry: first base Function: noun Date: 1845 1 : the base that must be touched first by a base runner in baseball 2 : the player position for defending the area around first base 3 : the first step or stage in a course of action - first base.man /-'bA-sm&n/ noun Main Entry: first cause Function: noun Date: 14th century : the self-created ultimate source of all being Main Entry: first-class Pronunciation: 'f&rs(t)-'klas Function: adjective Date: circa 1838 1 : of or relating to first class 2 : of the highest quality - first-class adverb Main Entry: first class Function: noun Date: 1750 : the first or highest group in a classification: as a : the highest of usually three classes of travel accommodations b : a class of mail that comprises letters, postcards, or matter sealed against inspection
This is such a funny thread. The confusion is in part due to the ways of English teaching in CHina. Yao is his family name(surname), Ming is his given name. In china, Family name appears first. In chinese English teaching, last name is equivalent ot family name, which of course is consistent with the western tradition. But Americans call whichever name comes first first name. Most Chinese switch orders in English spelling of names, some don't. Yao Ming will stay as Yao Ming on his jersey, since too many people know him as Yao Ming. However, on his passport, I bet under first name it says Ming and Last Name Yao. But in order to answer the original question, I think the initials ain't necessary. Since both Yao and Ming are single syllubus (unlike MJ), the announcer will simply say "OMG what a dunk Yao Ming!". How will he sign the initial? I bet he hasn't made up his mind yet
crash, you are being a thick-headed ass. Quit being so condescending. For all. By Chinese standards his name is Yao Ming (Family name first, given name second). By American Standards, it would be Ming Yao (given name first, family name second). But it is doubtful he will ever be called that - out of respect. If the back of his jersey is to have only one name, though, it will be Yao, as the Mavs did with Wang. To make it easier, if Steve Francis was Chinese, he would go by Francis Steve.
Out of respect...which is why we should say his surname first...the way it is intended to be said. Of course if only one name is on the back of his jersey it will probably be Yao since that is his surname. As far as I know all NBA players have at least their surname on the back of their jersey. You say I am being a thickheaded ass but I am not the one trying to change the order of his surname and his given name to fit our culture. Don't you think that is just a little arrogant on our part to presume that he should do it our way when it is a Chinese name? You know what, there are probably plenty of publications that will find out that Yao is his surname and assume that the Chinese are wrong by placing it first. As a result some will probably feel that it is there duty to correct it and place Ming in front but it most certainly does not make it right. Don't you think that if the Chinese had intended their surnames to come last then that is the way they would have done it? Or is it just me being a thickheaded ass again? BTW, this is one of those arguments that is probably best for the hangout so this is the last I will say on it. You call him what you wan't. For me he is Yao Ming.
