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The ongoing presidential illustrates the inadequacy of Chinese surnames adequately. All four candidates are Tans. Useless and meaningless to identify families and clans. When you tell someone, please go and see Mr. Tan (or Lim or Lee etc.), it's meaningless as an address. You need the full name. I'm sure that there're tens of thousands of Tans (or Lims or Lees) out there.
I wonder how the Chinese attach any sense of pride in their surnames. It's like two dozens a penny, two pounds a dime and two tons a dollar all sharing your same surnames.
I struggled with Chinese surnames of my Chinese friends until I gave up, I only remember them by their given names. Every other one is a Tan, Lim or Lee etc. What for remember their surnames?
I wonder how the Chinese attach any sense of pride in their surnames. It's like two dozens a penny, two pounds a dime and two tons a dollar all sharing your same surnames.
I struggled with Chinese surnames of my Chinese friends until I gave up, I only remember them by their given names. Every other one is a Tan, Lim or Lee etc. What for remember their surnames?
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