How sinologists choose their Chinese names

Belarusian Sinologist Katsiaryna Malyshava. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Katsiaryna Malyshava, translator and secretary with Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Belarus.

I received my Chinese name Zhiyin智音 from my Chinese teacher the first year I started learning Chinese. But I seldom use it. Right now I prefer to use the transcription of my Belarusian name – 卡佳 (read "ka jia"). I think the most common way to find a Chinese name for yourself is to analyze how your name sounds in your own language. Then check the dictionary for the words in Chinese which sound more or less the same way and have an interesting meaning.