A Chinese male could have several types of names throughout his lifetime.
These gapou (jiapu) can get confusing because one person can be refered to by several different names.
meng (ming) ¦W -given name
zi (zi) ¦r - "style," "epithet," or "marriage name," taken at marriage or coming of age (when there was a "capping" ceremony to show that the man had come of age).
hou (hao) ¸¹ - "sobriquet," usually assumed by the person later in life, although sometimes conferred by friends. It is not uncommon for a modern Chinese to use a hao, continuing this old custom. One can think of it as a nickname.
wai (hui) ¿Ð - name of a deceased elder member of the family
bit zi (bie zi) §O¦r - "distinguishing appellation" given by friends to each other
To learn more about Chinese names visit Chinese Personal Names.
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