Dear Friends,

I loved my Chinese girlfriend very much and she is very interesting in the Irish culture. However, as I was born in South Africa, I know nothing about Gaeilge but she is keep asking me to translate her name into Irish. I wonder if anyone could help me with this: Fai Tsui Chan Ka. Many thanks.

I'm afraid Chinese isn't every Irish-speaker's first, second or even third language. It would be much easier if you would begin with giving an English translation of her name.

(Assuming that English is understood by most here)

Dear Jonas,

Her name in English translation is FAI TSUI CHAN KA. Could it help?

Paul
Jonas was asking what the name _means_, not what the english transliteration would be.
If all you want is to make the name look Irish by getting rid of the letters that are not used in Irish, the exercise is fairly pointless.

Many Chinese speakers choose an English name for themselves if they emigrate or have any connection to the English-speaking world. At least that's my experience with people from certain places (e.g., Taiwan) and time periods. (A recent traumatic event made me aware that much of my experience is now dated.)

Since the names they choose in English often have nothing to do with their Chinese names, you (or she) could do the same with Irish -- Just choose anything that appeals to either of you.

Can anyone think of a woman's name in Irish that starts with an 'f' and maybe includes one or more of the other sounds in her name? Fidelma is the best I can think of. Teafa, a name from olden times, also occurs to me, even if it doesn't start with the 'f'. (Tá ceann de leabhartha bleachtaireachta faoin tSiúr Fidelma á léamh agam faoi láthair.) How about Pádraigín (Patricia/Little Patrick)?

Thank you my friends!!