Last semester I started taking Chinese and my professor assigned us all Chinese names. The name I got was 友达 (yǒudá). This is the closest name to Judah she could get without using the name in the Bible, which is the same for Judah and Judas so she didn't want to use that. Now after knowing a little more Chinses I decided to look for a name for myself. I came across 赞美 (Zànměi) which isn't a standard name, but is the word for "praise" that leah uses when she names her son Judah in Genesis. So, I am debating whether to stick with 友达 which sounds more like Judah or to switch to 赞美 which has the meaning behind Judah. Have any input?
-Judah :)
The characters for the 'Praise' one look fancier. I'm all for fancy.
ReplyDelete-Abby
赞美 would be a strange name. In Genesis 29:35 Chinese Union Version, Leah says "这回我要赞美耶和华，因此给他起名叫犹大" (Zhè huí Wǒ yào zànměi Yēhéhuá, yīncǐ gěi tā qǐmíng jiào Yóudà) which means "This time I will praise Yahweh, therefore [I] give him the name Yóudà." The verse then goes on to say 就是赞美的意思 (Jiùshì zànměi de yìsi) which means "This is [has] praise's meaning." Of course, Yóudà only means "praise" in Hebrew. In Chinese it means "Jew big" (犹=Jew, 大=big).
ReplyDeleteLeah did not name her son 赞美. The verse just says that her son's name had the meaning of 赞美.
赞美 (zànměi) is the verb for "praise" and it is VERY common in the Bible, but it is never used as a name. Take a look at Psalm 150, Chinese Union Version: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20150&version=CUVS
赞美 is used thirteen times in six verses! Take a look at some of the other Psalms too, and you'll see 赞美 used over and over again.
赞美 is a beautiful word but I think it would sound strange as a name. If I were you, I would stick with 友达.
"友达" means "friend of" which sounds nice.
--Matt Elton (童马特)