Ngai (surname): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Chinese family surname}} |
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[[Image:Ngai.JPG|thumb|150px|Ngai (third character), written in Chinese running-hand calligraphy]] |
[[Image:Ngai.JPG|thumb|150px|Ngai (third character), written in Chinese running-hand calligraphy]] |
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'''Ngai''' is the transliteration of three [[List of common Chinese surnames|Chinese surnames]] in [[Hong Kong]] based on [[Cantonese]]: |
'''Ngai''' is the transliteration of three [[List of common Chinese surnames|Chinese surnames]] in [[Hong Kong]] based on [[Cantonese]]: |
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*[[wiktionary:魏|魏]], also common in northern China as Wei ([[pinyin]]: |
*[[wiktionary:魏|魏]], also common in northern China as Wei ([[pinyin]]: [[Wei (surname)|Wèi]]) |
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*[[wiktionary:危|危]], pinyin: |
*[[wiktionary:危|危]], pinyin: [[Wei (surname 危)|Wēi]] |
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*[[wiktionary:倪|倪]], pinyin: |
*[[wiktionary:倪|倪]], pinyin: [[Ni (surname)|Ní]] |
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All three characters are written the same way in both [[traditional Chinese character|traditional]] and [[simplified Chinese character|simplified]] writing systems. |
All three characters are written the same way in both [[traditional Chinese character|traditional]] and [[simplified Chinese character|simplified]] writing systems. |
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==See also== |
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The native pronunciation of these three characters (disregarding their tonal values) is {{IPA-all|ŋɐɪ|}}. This causes especial difficulty to speakers of English for two reasons: |
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* [[Wei (surname)]] |
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*The [[engma]] (ŋ) as an initial consonant is unknown in English. (However, even in modern Cantonese, the omission of initial engma is considered passable, albeit a mark of careless speech.) |
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* [[Ni (surname)]] |
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*In English, the so-called "long i", which the sound ''ai'' usually represents in transliteration, represents a [[complementary distribution]] of {{IPA2|aɪ|}} (as in ''hide'') and {{IPA2|ɐɪ|}} (as in ''height''); or represents the first [[diphthong]] exclusively, depending on region. In both cases, English [[phonotactics]] call for the first diphthong in this case. However, in Cantonese the two diphthongs are distinct (in systems of [[Standard Cantonese#Romanization|Cantonese romanization]] the two sounds are represented by ''aai'' and ''ai''), and the second diphthong is the appropriate one. |
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Therefore, individuals with these last names, when speaking English, may for convenience pronounce the last name {{IPA-en|ˈnaɪ|}} or {{IPA-en|ˈaɪ|}}. |
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[[Category:Chinese-language surnames]] |
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[[Category:Multiple Chinese surnames]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Cantonese-language surnames]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:24, 27 August 2024
Ngai is the transliteration of three Chinese surnames in Hong Kong based on Cantonese:
All three characters are written the same way in both traditional and simplified writing systems.