# CHINESE ROMANIZATION 

**POLICIES FOR CATALOGING CHINESE MATERIAL**

July 18, 2002

# Separation of Syllables

> Separate the romanization of each Chinese character with a space,
> except as directed below. This includes corporate names, terms of
> address and titles of royalty. Do not join syllables of general,
> non-specific geographic terms.

1.  Terms of address. A term of address may follow a surname, a courtesy
    name, or another appellation. Separate syllables in the term of
    address. If a term appearing as an integral part of a name is not a
    title or term of address, romanize the name in running form, as a
    forename (see below).

> **Certain terms, such as 先生 (xian sheng) are sometimes used as terms
> of address, and sometimes as forenames (i.e., pseudonyms or pen
> names). When they are used as terms of address, separate syllables;
> however, when they are used as forenames, romanize the name in running
> form (see Connection of syllables, section 1A).**
>
> **When establishing a forename followed by a term of address, a title
> of position or office, enter under the forename. Refer from the name
> in direct order.**

白沙先生

Romanize name as: Baisha xian sheng

Heading established as: Chen, Xianzhang, \$d 1428-1500

Give reference as: Baisha xian sheng, \$d 1428-1500

Also give reference as: Baisha, \$c xian sheng, \$d 1428-1500

> **When establishing names that consist of a surname followed by a term
> of address, follow AACR2 rule 22.15A by adding the word or phrase to
> the surname. Separate the term of address from the surname with a
> comma in the heading. Refer from the name in direct order.**

林老师

Romanize name as: Lin lao shi

Heading established as: Lin, \$c lao shi

Give reference as: Lin lao shi

韋大夫

Romanize name as: Wei dai fu

Heading established as: Wei, \$c dai fu

Give reference as: Wei dai fu

2.  Titles, and titles of royalty. Syllables in a title should be
    separated and written in lower-case. If a term appearing as an
    integral part of a name is not a title or term of address, romanize
    the name in running form, as a forename. An epithet is separated
    from the name of a person, using lower case letters and separated
    syllables.

> **Follow AACR2 rule 22.12 when establishing names that include titles
> of nobility and terms of honor. Note that this rule applies to names
> that consist of a surname and a title, or a forename and a title.
> Names with titles will be established as: Name, \$c title. Examples of
> Chinese titles include: *fei* and *gui fei*.**

董鄂妃

Romanize name as: Dong'e fei

Heading established as: Dong'e, \$c fei, \$d 1638-1660

Give reference as: Dong'e fei, \$d 1638-1660

> **Headings for persons with the highest royal status are established
> according to AACR2 rule 22.16A1. Enter the name in direct order.**

慈禧皇太后

Romanize name as: Cixi huang tai hou

Heading established as: Cixi, \$c Empress dowager of China, \$d
1835-1908

Give referencesas: Cixi, \$c huang tai hou, \$d 1835-1908

Cixi huang tai hou, \$d 1835-1908

秦始皇帝

Romanize name as: Qin shi huang di

Heading established as: Qin shi huang, \$c Emperor of China, \$d 259-210
B.C.

Give reference as: Qin shi huang di, \$c Emperor of China, \$d 259-210
B.C.

楊太后

Romanize name as: Yang tai hou

> Heading established as: Yang, \$c Empress, consort of Song Ningzong,
> Emperor of China, \$d 1162-1233
>
> Give references as: Yang, \$c tai hou, \$d 1162-1233
>
> Yang tai hou, \$d 1162-1233
>
> But:

唐太宗

Romanize name as: Tang Taizong

Heading established as: Tang Taizong, \$c Emperor of China, \$d 597-649

3\. General, non-specific geographic terms. Some terms have both general
and specific usage, depending upon context. For example, when the term
东北 refers to the direction northeast, or, in a general way, to the
Northeast, separate syllables; when it is used to refer specifically to
Manchuria, capitalize and join syllables.

华东 Hua dong

西北 xi bei

东北 dong bei

陕北 Shan bei

But:

东北林学院 Dongbei lin xue yuan

> **Connection of syllables.**
>
> > 1\. Join together (without spaces or hyphens) the syllables
> > associated with multi-character surnames and given names. Also join
> > together given names, Buddhist names, courtesy names, etc., in more
> > than one syllable. For example:

孫中山 Sun Zhongshan

歐陽修 Ouyang Xiu

司馬相如 Sima Xiangru

尼克森 Nikesen

康有為 Kang Youwei

1A. Forenames, given names, courtesy names. A forename does not include
a person\'s surname. Only capitalize the first letter of a forename. If
a term appearing as an integral part of a name is not a title or term of
address, romanize the name in running form.

> **Certain terms, such as 先生 (xian sheng) are sometimes used as terms
> of address, and sometimes as forenames (i.e., pseudonyms or pen
> names). When they are used as forenames, romanize the name in running
> form (see Connection of syllables, section 1A); however, when they are
> used as terms of address, separate syllables (see Separation of
> syllables, section 1A).**
>
> **There are many sorts of Chinese forenames. It is frequently
> difficult to clearly divide syllables because the structure or origin
> of terms, or the meanings of the characters themselves, are obscure.
> Therefore, to promote consistent application and to save time, all
> forenames will be romanized with connected syllables, leaving no space
> between them. Alternative forms of access may be given for the form
> which a cataloger feels that a user might employ to find a name (for
> example, romanized form, Wugangzhuren; possible reference, Wugang
> zhuren)**

無 名氏

Romanize name as: Wumingshi

Heading established as: Wumingshi, \$c pseud. (AACR2 compatible heading)

梧岗主人

Romanize name as: Wugangzhuren

Heading established as: Wugangzhuren

雲谷老人

Romanize name as: Yungulaoren

Heading established as: Zhu, Xi, \$d 1130-1200

Give reference as: Yungulaoren, \$d 1130-1200

孔子

Romanize name as: Kongzi

Heading established as: Confucius

Give reference as: Kongzi

老子

Romanize name as: Laozi

Heading established as: Laozi

浩然

Romanize name as: Haoran

Heading established as: Haoran, \$d 1932-

1B. Married women. Separate and capitalize family names. **Connect the
syllables of the forename, and capitalize only the first letter.**

蔣宋美齡

Romanize name as: Jiang Song Meiling

Heading established as: Jiang Song, Meiling, \$d 1897-

陳趙月英

Romanize name as: Chen Zhao Yueying

Heading established as: Chen Zhao, Yueying, \$d 1914-

1C. Fictional characters. The names of fictional characters are
romanized in the same manner as those of real people.

骆驼祥子 Luotuo Xiangzi

秦可卿 Qin Keqing

1D. Names of persons of religious vocation. Separate a term of address
from a family name or forename. **Syllables of a term of address should
be written separately and in lower case. In a heading or reference, the
term of address should appear in the \$c subfield, following the surname
or forename. See AACR2 rule 22.16D for instructions on headings for
persons of religious vocation.**

惠能

Romanize name as: Huineng

Heading established as: Huineng, \$d 638-713

吉藏釋

Romanize name as: Jizang shi

Heading established as: Jizang, \$d 549-623

Give references as: Jizang, \$c shi, \$d 549-623

Jizang shi, \$d 549-623

智顗大師

Romanize name as: Zhiyi da shi

Heading established as: Zhiyi, \$d 538-597

Give references as: Zhiyi, \$c da shi, \$d 538-597

Zhiyi da shi, \$d 538-597

沙門元賢

Romanize name as: sha men Yuanxian

Heading established as: Yuanxian, \$c shi

Give reference as: Yuanxian, \$c sha men

1E. Personal names appearing as part of the names of corporate bodies
and meetings are romanized in the same manner as all other personal
names.

中山大學 Zhongshan da xue

《刘少奇研究论文集》编辑组 "Liu Shaoqi yan jiu lun wen ji" bian ji zu

周恩来研究学术讨论会 Zhou Enlai yan jiu xue shu tao lun hui

> 2\. Join together (without spaces or hyphens) the syllables associated
> with multi-character geographic names. Do not join the names of
> jurisdictions and topographical features to geographic names, but
> separate them from the proper name by a space.

中华人民共和国史稿 Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo shi gao

臺灣省立博物館 Taiwan sheng li bo wu guan

西藏自治区文物管理委员会 Xizang Zizhiqu wen wu guan li wei yuan

hui

东北林学院 Dongbei lin xue yuan

楊子江 Yangzi Jiang

广州市 Guangzhou Shi

安徽省 Anhui Sheng

商丘地区 Shangqiu Diqu

鹿港镇 Lugang Zhen

纽约市 Niuyue Shi

甘南藏族自治州 Gannan Zangzu Zizhizhou

翠亨村 Cuiheng Cun

浦棠乡 Putang Xiang

海南岛 Hainan Dao

2A. Names of countries. Connect syllables according to the practice
followed by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names on GEOnet (GNS).

中华人民共和国 Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo

朝鲜民主主义人民共和国 Chaoxian Minzhu Zhuyi Renmin Gongheguo

中華民國 Zhonghua Minguo

民国档案与民国史学术讨论会论文集

> Minguo dang an yu Minguo shi xue shu tao lun hui lun wen ji

俄国戏剧史概要 Eguo xi ju shi gai yao

2B. Generic terms for geographical features are capitalized and
separated from the names of the features. **Refer to GEOnet (GNS) to
identify generic terms for place names, or do so using one's knowledge
of the Chinese language. Place names should be systematically romanized
in descriptive strings. Please note that the romanization in headings
may vary from systematic form. For example, 长江口 is systematically
romanized as Chang Jiang Kou, but the heading has been established as
Changjiang Kou (China), following the form recommended by GEOnet.**

海南岛 Hainan Dao

太平洋 Taiping Yang

长江 Chang Jiang

长江口 Chang Jiang Kou

长江大饭店 Chang Jiang da fan dian

汾河 Fen He

汾河水库 Fen He Shuiku

梵净山 Fanjing Shan

梵净山自然保护区 Fanjing Shan Ziran Baohuqu

黄土高原 Huangtu Gaoyuan

印度半島 Yindu Bandao

2C. Two-syllable place names, in which the second syllable is a generic
term. Separate and capitalize the generic term for the jurisdiction.
**Refer to GEOnet (GNS) to identify generic terms for place names, or do
so using one's knowledge of the Chinese language.**

吳縣 Wu Xian

祁縣 Qi Xian

2D. Place names consisting of more than two syllables. Separate and
capitalize a generic term for the jurisdiction. **Refer to GEOnet (GNS)
to identify generic terms for place names, or do so using one's
knowledge of the Chinese language.**

安徽省 Anhui Sheng

广州市 Guangzhou Shi

高雄市 Gaoxiong Shi

宝山区 Baoshan Qu

鹿港镇 Lugang Zhen

翠亨村 Cuiheng Cun

尚丘地区 Shangqiu Diqu

干南藏族自治州 Gannan Zangzu Zizhizhou

2E. Obsolete terms for administrative units are romanized in the same
manner as the names of contemporary places.

福寧州 Funing Zhou

昌平州 Changping Zhou

錦州府 Jinzhou Fu

安順府 Anshun Fu

2F. Names of non-Chinese jurisdictions are romanized in the same manner
as the names of Chinese jurisdictions.

加州 Jia Zhou

紐約市 Niuyue Shi

亞洲 Ya Zhou

東南亞 Dong nan Ya

2G. Terms for archaeological sites, bridges, and other constructions of
geographic extent extent are capitalized and separated from the names
themselves. Individual syllables of multi-syllable generic terms are
connected together. **Refer to GEOnet (GNS) to identify generic terms
for place names, or do so using one's knowledge of the Chinese language.
Place names should be systematically romanized in descriptive strings.
Please note that the romanization in headings may vary from systematic
form. For example, 黄壁庄水库is systematically romanized as Huangbi
Zhuang Shuiku, but the subject heading has been established as
Huangbizhuang Dam (China), based on the form Huangbizhuang Shuiku, which
is recommended by GEOnet.**

泸州长江大桥 Luzhou Chang Jiang Daqiao

黄壁庄水库 Huangbi Zhuang Shuiku

京杭运河 Jing Hang Yunhe

2H. Names of buildings and other constructions of less than geographic
extent. Syllables are separated and not capitalized, except for proper
nouns.

黄鶴楼 Huang he lou

聖果寺 Sheng guo si

2I. Names of continents and regions. Generic terms are separated and
capitalized in the names of continents and regions. Distinguish when a
term refers to a region, and when it refers to direction or position.

亞洲 Ya Zhou

東南亞 Dong nan Ya

北美洲 Bei Mei Zhou

東北 dong bei (when referring to direction or position)

But:

東北 Dongbei (when referring to the particular area formerly known as
Manchuria)

> 2J. Personal names appearing as part of geographic names are romanized
> in the same manner as all other personal names.
>
> 张自忠路 Zhang Zizhong Lu
>
> 3\. Join together transliterations of two or more characters
> comprising the names of racial, linguistic, or tribal groupings of
> mankind**.** Join the term zu (for tribe or people) to a name only in
> proper names of places.

基督徒 Jidu tu

桐城派 Tongcheng pai

毛南族 Maonan zu

美国人 Meiguo ren

客家话 Kejia hua

苗族风情录 Miao zu feng qing lu

But:

德宏傣族景颇族自治州 Dehong Daizu Jingpozu Zizhizhou

4\. Add an apostrophe before joined syllables that begin with a vowel in
cases of ambiguity. For example:

長安市 Chang'an Shi *to distinguish it from* Changan Shi

延安市 Yan'an Shi *to distinguish it from* Yanan Shi

张章昂 Zhang Zhang'ang *to distinguish it from*

张占钢 Zhang Zhangang

劉正安 Liu, Zheng'an *to distinguish it from*

刘镇干 Liu, Zhengan

But:

雲谷老人 Yungulaoren (*not* Yun'gulaoren)