Bái is the

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...

of the

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

白, meaning the colour white. Another surname, 柏, meaning the tree cypress. This one is the 37th name on the ''

Hundred Family Surnames The ''Hundred Family Surnames'' (), commonly known as ''Bai Jia Xing'', also translated as ''Hundreds of Chinese Surnames'', is a classic Chinese text composed of common Chinese surnames. An unknown author compiled the book during the Song dyn ...

'' poem. Since 柏 is a character with two readings, it is often mistakenly read as "Bó". In modern Chinese, the proper way to pronounce it as a surname is "Bǎi". Bai and other variants were ranked 79th within the

list of common Chinese surnames These are lists of the most common Chinese surnames in China (People's Republic of China), Taiwan (Republic of China), and the Chinese diaspora overseas as provided by authoritative government or academic sources. Chinese names also form the basi ...

in 2006, down from 70th in 1990.

Origin

* a surname used by descendants of Bai Fu, a minister of the legendary

Emperor Yan The Yan Emperor () or the Flame Emperor was a legendary ancient Chinese ruler in pre-dynastic times. Modern scholarship has identified the Sheep's Head Mountains (''Yángtóu Shān'') just north of Baoji in Shaanxi Province as his homeland and ...

. * a surname used by descendants of Bai Gongsheng, the son of a crown prince of the

State of Chu Chu, or Ch'u in Wade–Giles romanization, (, Hanyu Pinyin: Chǔ, Old Chinese: ''*s-r̥aʔ'') was a Zhou dynasty vassal state. Their first ruler was King Wu of Chu in the early 8th century BCE. Chu was located in the south of the Zhou hea ...

during the

Spring and Autumn Period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

. * a surname used by the descendants of a prince named Bai, son of Duke Wu of the

state of Qin Qin () was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Traditionally dated to 897 BC, it took its origin in a reconquest of western lands previously lost to the Rong; its position at the western edge of Chinese civilization permitted ex ...

. * a surname used by descendants of

Duke Mu of Qin Duke Mu of Qin (died 621BC), born Renhao, was a duke of Qin (659–621BC) in the western reaches of the Zhou Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history. Sometimes considered one of China's Five Hegemons, he greatly expanded th ...

. * a surname used by the

Mongol The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal member of ...

s, possibly derived from

Borjigin A Borjigin, ; ; russian: Борджигин, Bordžigin; English plural: Borjigins or Borjigid (from Middle Mongolian);''Histoire des campagnes de Gengis Khan'', p. 119. Manchu plural: is a member of the Mongol sub-clan, which started with Bo ...

. * a surname used by the

Manchus The Manchus (; ) are a Tungusic East Asian ethnic group native to Manchuria in Northeast Asia. They are an officially recognized ethnic minority in China and the people from whom Manchuria derives its name. The Later Jin (1616–1636) and Q ...

Irgen Gioro Irgen Gioro (; ) is a Manchu clan and family name, which was officially categorized as a "notable clan", and member of the eight great houses of the Manchu nobility in Qing dynasty. Sibe and Nanai people also has Irgen Gioro as their family na ...

and Bayara Gioro * during the ancient

Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

in modern-day

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...

, the

Bai people The Bai, or Pai ( Bai: Baipho, (白和); ; endonym pronounced ), are an East Asian ethnic group native to the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, Bijie area of Guizhou Province, and Sangzhi area of Hunan Province. They constitu ...

used the surname Bai after their tribe name * a surname used by the ancient Donghu people. * a surname used by the ancient people of

Kucha Kucha, or Kuche (also: ''Kuçar'', ''Kuchar''; ug, كۇچار, Кучар; zh, t= 龜茲, p=Qiūcí, zh, t=庫車, p=Kùchē; sa, कूचीन, translit=Kūcīna), was an ancient Buddhist kingdom located on the branch of the Silk Road ...

(or Qiuci). Kucha was an ancient country located in current Xinjiang province of China.

Alternate spellings

Mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...

: Bái, Pai *

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

: Pai *

Cantonese Cantonese ( zh, t=廣東話, s=广东话, first=t, cy=Gwóngdūng wá) is a language within the Chinese (Sinitic) branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages originating from the city of Guangzhou (historically known as Canton) and its surrounding are ...

(

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

and

Macao Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a pop ...

): Baak6, Pak *

Min Nan Southern Min (), Minnan ( Mandarin pronunciation: ) or Banlam (), is a group of linguistically similar and historically related Sinitic languages that form a branch of Min Chinese spoken in Fujian (especially the Minnan region), most of Taiwan ...

(

Hokkien The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...

(

Fujian Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its capi ...

)/ Teochew): Pe̍h, Pe̍k, Peh *

Vietnamese Vietnamese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia ** A citizen of Vietnam. See Demographics of Vietnam. * Vietnamese people, or Kinh people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Vietnam ** Overse ...

Bạch Bạch is a Vietnamese language surname, which means "white".''Behind the Name''"Surname Bạch" Retrieved on 26 January 2016. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese, and as Baek (also often spelled Baik, Paek or Paik) in Korean. Bach may be ...

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, ethnic group originating in the Korean Peninsula * Korean cuisine * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Chosŏn'gŭl **Korean dialects and the Jeju language ** ...

: Paik, Baik, Baek, Baeg (백) based on the same Chinese letter 白 *

Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...

: Bekku, Haku, Hyaku, Byaku

Notable people

* Bai An (白安, 1991-), Taiwanese singer, Manchus *

Bai Chongxi Bai Chongxi (18 March 1893 – 2 December 1966; , , Xiao'erjing: ) was a Chinese general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China (ROC) and a prominent Chinese Nationalist leader. He was of Hui ethnicity and of the Musli ...

(白崇禧, 1893–1966), Chinese Muslim general of the Republic of China * Bai Chong'en, 白重恩 Chinese economist *

Pai Hsiao-yen Pai Hsiao-yen (; 23 June 1980 – 20 April 1997) was the only daughter of popular Taiwanese TV host and actress Pai Bing-bing and Japanese author Ikki Kajiwara. Abduction, murder, and island-wide manhunt Abduction Pai Hsiao-yen disappeared aft ...

(白曉燕, 1980–1997), Taiwanese teenage idol and victim of a fatal kidnapping *

Pai Hsien-yung Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai (; born July 11, 1937) is a Chinese writer from Taiwan who has been described as a "melancholy pioneer". He was born in Guilin, Guangxi at the cusp of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Pai's father was the Kuomintang (KMT) ge ...

(白先勇, 1937-), Chinese Muslim writer *

Bai Jie Bai Jie (; born March 28, 1972) is a Chinese footballer who made 139 appearances for the China women's national football team and was part their second-place performance at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. Bai initially played left back and was ...

(白洁, 1972-), Chinese female footballer *

Bai Jing Bai Jing () (4 June 1983 – 28 February 2012) was a Chinese actress. She was best known for her role in the 2010 film '' Kung Fu Wing Chun'' in which she played the Chinese folk heroine Yim Wing-chun. Background Bai Jing graduated from Centra ...

(白静, 1983–2012), Chinese actress *

Bai Juyi Bai Juyi (also Bo Juyi or Po Chü-i; ; 772–846), courtesy name Letian (樂天), was a renowned Chinese poet and Tang dynasty government official. Many of his poems concern his career or observations made about everyday life, including as g ...

(白居易, 772–846), Tang Dynasty poet *

Pai Kun-Hong Pai Kun-hong (; born 6 January 1970other sources report his date of birth: ''February 6, 1970'') is a Taiwanese baseball player who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992 ...

(白昆弘, 1970-), Taiwanese baseball player * Bai Ling (白灵, 1966-), Chinese-born American actress * Bai Qi (白起, died 257 BC), Qin general of the Warring States Period *

Bai Renfu Bai Renfu (, c. 1226−1306), also known as Bai Pu (), was a renowned Chinese playwright of the Yuan dynasty. He wrote 16 plays, three of which are extant: * ''Over the Wall'' (裴少俊牆頭馬上 ''Péi Shǎo Jùn Qiáng Tóu Mǎ Shàng'') * ...

(白仁甫, 1226–1306), Yuan Dynasty playwright * Bai Shouyi (白寿彝, 1909–2000) (Arabic name: Djamal al-Din Bai Shouyi) Chinese Muslim historian * Bai Shuxiang (白淑湘, born 1939), Chinese ballet dancer * Lou Pai (白露龍, 1947-), Chinese-American businessman and former Enron executive *

Bai Wenqi Bai Wenqi (; born October 1955) is a Chinese naval aviator who is a lieutenant general of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and a former vice admiral of the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF). He has been the inaugur ...

(白文奇, born 1955), Lieutenant general of the PLA Air Force * Bai Chunli (白春礼, born 1953), Manchus, Chinese physical chemist and nanoscientist, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences *

Peter Pek Peter Pek is a Malaysian businessman, and the chief executive of the World Branding Forum, a global non-profit organisation that manages and supports a range of programmes. He is also the executive producer of the World Branding Awards. He is th ...

, chief executive of the World Branding Forum *

Bai Yansong Bai Yansong () (born August 20, 1968) is a Chinese news commentator, anchor and journalist for China Central Television (CCTV). He has become one of the most recognizable figures in China, serving as the lead anchor on stories such as the Sydney O ...

(白岩松, 1968), Chinese host *

Rose Pak Rose Lan Pak () was a activism, political activist in San Francisco, California, noted for her influence on city politics and power in the Chinatown, San Francisco, Chinatown community. Pak served as a consultant for the San Francisco Chinese Cha ...

(白蘭; 1947–2016) Chinese-born political activist in San Francisco, California *

Michelle Bai Bai Bing (; born 2 May 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer. Bai is noted for her roles as Xue Baochai and Princess Yushu in the television series '' The Dream of Red Mansions'' (2010) and '' The Myth'' (2010) respectively. Early life and educ ...

(白冰, 1986) is a Chinese actress and singer *

Bai Jingting Bai Jingting (, born October 15, 1993) is a Chinese actor. He made his acting debut in the web series ''Back in Time'' (2014). He has since earned recognition for his roles in the television series ''The Whirlwind Girl'' (2016) and '' Rush to ...

(白敬亭, 1993) Chinese Actor

柏

Bai Jiajun Bai Jiajun (; born 20 March 1991) is a Chinese football player who currently plays for Chinese League One side Jinan Xingzhou as a left-back. Club career Born in Shanghai, Bai joined Genbao Football Academy in 2000 and was described by Academy ...

(柏佳骏; 1991) is a Chinese football player * Bai Wenwei (柏文蔚; 1876–1947), KMT General, Governor of Anhui Province, Advisor to Presidential Palace, Chairman Anhui Provincial Government, KMT Central Party Committee, and Central Executive Committee * Bai Xiaolei (柏小磊; 1985-) is a Chinese football player born in Dalian * Bai Yan (柏衍; 1989-) is a Chinese male tennis player born in Nanjing, Jiangsu * Penname:

Bo Yang Bo Yang (; 7 March 1920 – 29 April 2008), sometimes also erroneously called Bai Yang, was a Chinese historian, novelist, philosopher, poet, and politician based in Taiwan. He is also regarded as a social critic. According to his own memoir, t ...

(柏楊; 1920 – 2008), was a Taiwanese poet, essayist and historian, real name Guo Dingsheng (郭定生)

拜

Pai Tzu-li Pai Tzu-li () was a Chinese Muslim general of the 36th Division (National Revolutionary Army), who served under Generals Ma Zhongying and Ma Hushan. He was the secretary to Ma Zhongying and his age was estimated to be about 40. He was then Ch ...

, (拜自立) Chinese Muslim General of the Republic of China

As part of a stagename/pseudonym

* Bai Guang (白光 stagename) (1921–1999), birth name Shi Yongfen (史永芬) movie star and singer

Korean

Helen Pai Helen Pai is an American television writer, director, and producer. Pai works at Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions, founded by close friend Amy Sherman-Palladino, and is co-producer of the television series ''Gilmore Girls'' and ''Bunheads''. ...

, American television writer, director, and producer

Origin

Alternate spellings

Notable people

柏

拜

As part of a stagename/pseudonym

Korean

See also