How Gary Grimmer Got his Chinese Name, Qi Hao Wen

My personal goal in life has been to be an international person - to meet, work with and learn about people in many cultures. When I started my company my first major client was the Macau Government Tourism Office. Because of that, and my interest in Chinese culture, I decided that I wanted to have a Chinese name.

Choosing a Chinese name is never easy for a westerner, because in China westerners are expected to have Chinese names that sound like their western names when pronounced in Chinese.  But, the Chinese names that sounded like my western name didn’t have good meanings.  So, I decided that I didn’t want to be like other westerners, and I didn’t want a Chinese name that sounded like my western name.  I wanted a Chinese name that had good meaning. 

I was fortunate to have good friends in Macau and I asked them to give me a Chinese name that had good meaning.  They gave me the name Qi Hao Wen.  I am honoured to have that name because Hao Wen means “great knowledge.”   At first, I was hesitant to take that name, because it might appear boastful.   But, my friends explained to me that even though Chinese surnames don’t usually have meaning, my surname “Qi” did have meaning.  Qi means “a prayer.”  So, I decided that I liked the name Qi Hao Wen, because to me it means “a prayer for great knowledge” which is what everyone should have. 

So, I chose my Chinese name because it means that I am on a personal journey seeking great knowledge.   I hope to gain that through the people I meet, learn from and with whom I form lasting relationships.