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HelpShould I have an English name?
Hello.
I'm a student from Asia, South Korea to be precise, and going to study & work on Hospitality industry in Australia for quite a long time, maybe for ever.
As I'm going to be a hotelier I do agree that I need a name which is attractive and familiar to everyone including a lot of guests from all around the world but also, I'm very proud of my original one 'Chihe' so still confused if I should build my career with a new English one.
What are you thoughts on this? & How would you pronounce my name 'Chihe'?
I'll be waiting for your honest answers. Thanks!
I'm a student from Asia, South Korea to be precise, and going to study & work on Hospitality industry in Australia for quite a long time, maybe for ever.
As I'm going to be a hotelier I do agree that I need a name which is attractive and familiar to everyone including a lot of guests from all around the world but also, I'm very proud of my original one 'Chihe' so still confused if I should build my career with a new English one.
What are you thoughts on this? & How would you pronounce my name 'Chihe'?
I'll be waiting for your honest answers. Thanks!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I don't know anything about Korean, but I'd probably say "CHEE-hay" (like the country Chile with an h instead of an l) or "CHEE-heh". But maybe it's more like "CHEE-eh"?
I wouldn't change it if I were you. Maybe you'll have to tell people how to pronounce it when you first meet them, but it's short and easy to spell and I think people will remember if you tell them how to say it.
If you end up having trouble with it, you could choose an English name or use a nickname like Chi, Chichi, Chia, etc. to use most of the time. Or if your name has a good translation or English form, you could use that (I know a Chinese exchange student whose name is Yiyue, but she usually goes by January because Yiyue is January in Chinese.)
I wouldn't change it if I were you. Maybe you'll have to tell people how to pronounce it when you first meet them, but it's short and easy to spell and I think people will remember if you tell them how to say it.
If you end up having trouble with it, you could choose an English name or use a nickname like Chi, Chichi, Chia, etc. to use most of the time. Or if your name has a good translation or English form, you could use that (I know a Chinese exchange student whose name is Yiyue, but she usually goes by January because Yiyue is January in Chinese.)
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My first instinct is to pronounce it CHEE-hee. You will definitely run into problems with people mispronouncing your name and/or being hesitant to say your name at all. At the same time, I don't think you should feel like you have to use an English name. I agree with Lavinia about going by "Chi". I think most people from around the world would pronounce Chi correctly.
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Knowing nothing about Korean pronunciation, I would pronounce your name Chee-hay.
I don't think you should change it. I think as long as you introduce yourself immediately to your clients, which you should do anyway in the hospitality industry, then they will know your name and how to pronounce it.
I don't think you should change it. I think as long as you introduce yourself immediately to your clients, which you should do anyway in the hospitality industry, then they will know your name and how to pronounce it.
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Chee-hee? I don't quite know how you'd pronounce it, but I don't think it's the type of name that would be that difficult if you were told once.
However, if you'd feel more comfortable using an English then go for it, but it's also perfectly valid to want to keep your name and I don't think you should HAVE to change your name just because you're in an industry where you're interacting with a lot of people, and also like you said guests will be from all over the world, so while your Korean name may not be completely intuitive to English guests, an English name might trip up Japanese guests, or Spanish guests, you can't please everyone.
However, if you'd feel more comfortable using an English then go for it, but it's also perfectly valid to want to keep your name and I don't think you should HAVE to change your name just because you're in an industry where you're interacting with a lot of people, and also like you said guests will be from all over the world, so while your Korean name may not be completely intuitive to English guests, an English name might trip up Japanese guests, or Spanish guests, you can't please everyone.
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My first instinct on how to pronounce your name would be similar to Reverie's, chee-hay.
I know many immigrants who have chosen to take on "easier" names, but if you're proud of your name I don't think that you should feel obligated to change it. People can learn your name.
Or perhaps, rather than taking on an entirely new English name, you could just use Chi as a nickname if people have a problem pronouncing your full name.
I know many immigrants who have chosen to take on "easier" names, but if you're proud of your name I don't think that you should feel obligated to change it. People can learn your name.
Or perhaps, rather than taking on an entirely new English name, you could just use Chi as a nickname if people have a problem pronouncing your full name.
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Do you pronounce it Chee Hee? Chee Hye? I'm afraid I don't have any idea how to pronounce it.
The decision of whether or not to change your name to an English one is not one anybody can make except you. Ordinarily I would say no, stick with what you've got, but I'm pretty sure most if not all of the people you'll meet will have a hard time pronouncing your name, it might be easier on you if you do change it, just so you won't have to hear it mispronounced all the time and won't have to keep correcting people.
The decision of whether or not to change your name to an English one is not one anybody can make except you. Ordinarily I would say no, stick with what you've got, but I'm pretty sure most if not all of the people you'll meet will have a hard time pronouncing your name, it might be easier on you if you do change it, just so you won't have to hear it mispronounced all the time and won't have to keep correcting people.
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