Chinese name to Katakana
How to write a Chinese name in Japanese Katakana
You enter 张伟 and see both チョウ イ and チャン・ウェイ. Why are they so different? They answer two different questions about the same written name. Here is how to read the result without already knowing Japanese.
Convert a name nowA line of unfamiliar Katakana can be a lot to take in. We’ll pick out the small characters and long vowels as we go.
张伟: チョウ イ or チャン・ウェイ?
张伟 is written 張偉 in Japanese character forms. チョウ イ reads the kanji in Japanese; チャン・ウェイ approximates Mandarin Zhāng Wěi. For an introduction, use the pronunciation you go by. For a Japanese text, compare the reading printed with the name.
Chinese name to Katakana examples
Each row compares two pronunciations of the same written name. Pinyin records Mandarin; the last column gives the Japanese kanji reading.
| Chinese name | Hanyu Pinyin | Mandarin Katakana | Japanese on-reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| 张伟 | Zhāng Wěi | チャン・ウェイ | チョウ イ |
| 林雪 | Lín Xuě | リン・シュエ | リン セツ |
| 王宁 | Wáng Níng | ワン・ニン | オウ ネイ |
| 欧阳云 | Ōuyáng Yún | オウヤン・ユン | オウヨウ ウン |
Which sound do you use for your name?
For 林雪 (Lín Xuě), リン・シュエ is a Mandarin-based approximation. リン セツ is a Japanese kanji reading. If you already use a Japanese spelling, keep it when preparing a name card.
The Chinese-sound column here uses Mandarin. A Cantonese or other regional pronunciation may need a different spelling, even when the characters are the same.
Small kana and long vowels
チャン contains a small ャ; replacing it with ヤ gives チヤン, a different sequence. ウェイ also has a small character, ェ. Check these after copying a name.
The long-vowel mark ー is not a keyboard hyphen. A middle dot ・ separates name parts; it does not lengthen a vowel. Removing a separator for a form should not also remove a long vowel.
Ouyang stays together
In 欧阳云, 欧阳 is the surname and 云 is the given name. The Mandarin spelling is Ōuyáng Yún, approximated as オウヤン・ユン. The Japanese on-reading is オウヨウ ウン. Both keep the same surname boundary.
Two Chinese names can share one Katakana spelling
王 (Wáng) and 汪 (Wāng) can both appear as ワン. Katakana does not show the Mandarin tone difference. Keeping the characters or Pinyin beside the reading distinguishes them.
Check the kana
Where is the surname boundary in 欧阳云?
After 欧阳: the surname is 欧阳 and the given name is 云. Keep the two-character surname together in your notes.
Can you recover the exact Chinese name from ワン alone?
No. For example, 王 Wáng and 汪 Wāng can both be approximated as ワン. Retain the original characters.
Is チヤン just チャン in a larger font?
Show the explanation
Small ャ joins チ to make チャ. Full-size ヤ is read separately. A font-size change does not turn one character into the other.
References for the writing conventions
More guides to Chinese names in Japanese
How do you read a Chinese name in Japanese?
Start with the full guide to Japanese on-readings, Mandarin Katakana and Romaji.
How do you write a Chinese name in Japanese hiragana?
Compare the hiragana and katakana forms of a Chinese name’s Japanese on-reading.
What is the difference between Japanese romaji and Pinyin for a Chinese name?
See how a Japanese on-reading becomes romaji and how it differs from Hanyu Pinyin.
How does a Chinese name change in Japanese kanji?
Compare Chinese name characters with commonly used Japanese forms.
Convert your Chinese name to Katakana
Compare the readings for your name, then copy the one you use or save it on a card.