Because Mandarin has far fewer sounds than English, there are far more opportunities for puns. When naming your business in a Chinese speaking country, research the Chinese name so that it doesn’t evoke derogatory or negative meanings. That may doom its success no matter how lovely the business name is in English. For example, I once stayed at an establishment called Fly by Knight. While its English connotation may sound like a shady business, the namesake was a reference to a gallant hero’s flight from corrupt authorities in The Water Margin, a famous work of fiction. In fact, the Chinese don’t even trust themselves with naming their children. It is common practice to check a baby name with a fortune teller who can hear or see the various connotations a child’s name may bear. Consult an expert so your company name in Chinese says what you want it to say.
