Beijing, Peking, etc ...

[Zebra]

which of the many names for it do you know?

In Germany we still say Peking

 

[Zebra]

I know all the names in the list except Beiping

 

[JoeB131]

which of the many names for it do you know?

In Germany we still say Peking

Beijing is probably the best.

The problem was that because Chinese write in Hanzi, translating them into Romanized letters has always been a challenge.

The British came up with the Wade-Giles system, which involves a lot of hyphens and apostrophes.

Other European nations came up with their own versions.

The Chinese, as they started to develop stronger relationships with the west, came up with Pinyin, which was more standardized and closer to how the Chinese actually pronounce those words.

For instance, in Wade-Giles, Mao Tse-tung was succeeded by Deng Hsiao-Ping. Ugh.

Pinyin Mao Zedong was succeeded by Deng Xiaoping. Much clearer, don't you think?

 

[mudwhistle]

Beijing is probably the best.

The problem was that because Chinese write in Hanzi, translating them into Romanized letters has always been a challenge.

The British came up with the Wade-Giles system, which involves a lot of hyphens and apostrophes.

Other European nations came up with their own versions.

The Chinese, as they started to develop stronger relationships with the west, came up with Pinyin, which was more standardized and closer to how the Chinese actually pronounce those words.

For instance, in Wade-Giles, Mao Tse-tung was succeeded by Deng Hsiao-Ping. Ugh.

Pinyin Mao Zedong was succeeded by Deng Xiaoping. Much clearer, don't you think?

 

[JoeB131]

View attachment 1138871

I'm sorry you are impervious to learning. Must be very hard to go through life that way.

 

[Zebra]

the French still use Pekin

 

[JoeB131]

the French still use Pekin

Beijing is probably closer to how a Chinese speaking Mandarin pronounces it.

Hold on, let me check

Nope, Mrs. B131 says it's Beijing.

 

[JGalt]

Chingchong City

 

[BothWings]

I like Peking. I didn't know native Germans said that too, though!

My reason is, when I was a kid and we visited my grandparents and uncles in New Jersey, we sometimes went to a restaurant called the Peking Duck back in the 70's and 80's. And this wasn't just one of those hole-in-the-wall places where you order take out and leave or sit down at one of maybe three existent no-frills booths. It was in a huge old converted house with each dining room slightly different. The bar area was Tiki-themed (a style I've always inexplicably loved, which almost makes me believe in past lives). Each room was perfectly blended with light and shadow, and adorned with rich art and plants, both real and plastic. There were also fish tanks of tropical fish, and mini-fountains and things like that.

Anyway, having always associated that awesome, relaxing atmosphere with the name, "Peking" always just stuck in my head and I often use that word unless someone else has already kicked off a conversation with "Beijing". Then I'll just follow suit.

 

[Zebra]

yes, Germany stays with Peking

 

[Zebra]

and do you say Mao Zedong?
for me he is still Mao Tse Tung.

 

[Zebra]

Chingchong

that would be Tschingtschong in German.

 

[Zebra]

Tschu En Lai

 

[Zebra]

I like Peking. I didn't know native Germans said that too, though!

My reason is, when I was a kid and we visited my grandparents and uncles in New Jersey, we sometimes went to a restaurant called the Peking Duck back in the 70's and 80's. And this wasn't just one of those hole-in-the-wall places where you order take out and leave or sit down at one of maybe three existent no-frills booths. It was in a huge old converted house with each dining room slightly different. The bar area was Tiki-themed (a style I've always inexplicably loved, which almost makes me believe in past lives). Each room was perfectly blended with light and shadow, and adorned with rich art and plants, both real and plastic. There were also fish tanks of tropical fish, and mini-fountains and things like that.

Anyway, having always associated that awesome, relaxing atmosphere with the name, "Peking" always just stuck in my head and I often use that word unless someone else has already kicked off a conversation with "Beijing". Then I'll just follow suit.

4 of 4 say Peking

 

[Unkotare]

Beijing is probably closer to how a Chinese speaking Mandarin pronounces it.

Hold on, let me check

Nope, Mrs. B131 says it's Beijing.

 

[Unkotare]

which of the many names for it do you know?

In Germany we still say Peking

Only if you're talking about duck or opera.