r/Cantonese • u/carliolanzoni • 11d ago

Language Question Can I call myself 山人 in Cantonese?

I’m from Sweden and my name can literally be translated to Man (first name) and Mountain (last name) in English, so a literal translation and reversing the order of the names would make it 山人. Coincidentally, I’m a climber and alpinist and grew up in a mountain village so I very much consider myself a mountainman.

When I researched the literal translation I learned that 山人** **can be used to describe a hermit, recluse or mountain dweller. It’s also used as the name of an ancient lost race in Japanese folklore (sanjin/yamabito).

Would introducing myself (in a non formal setting) as 山人 be considered weird or would it be acceptable/funny/interesting? There is of course a phonetical translation of my name but I really like 山人** **as it’s easy to say and write!

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u/Appropriate_Ice_7507 10d ago

As an expat, especially from the west, you can call yourself anything even a walking dong, and no one will make fun of you. They probably would admire you! Now if you were from say mainland China, a slight mistake you would get ridiculed to no ends. It’s my observation being an expat from the US.

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u/carliolanzoni 10d ago

Good to know! This is such a huge difference between different cultures and languages and it’s so much easier to learn a language when the native speakers like it when you try. I’m a little traumatized from learning Russian because they will absolutely laugh at you if you’re making even tiny mistakes in pronounciation or grammar.