Why Names Of These Nine Sisters In China End The Same Way
The nine sisters, having an age gap of 20 years between the eldest and youngest, grew up in a small village in Huaian, Jiangsu province.
A couple in China surprised many by giving all their nine daughters names that end with the Chinese character ‘di,’ which means ‘brother.’ The father, Ji, used this approach to show his strong hope for a son. The daughters, who have an age gap of 20 years between the eldest and youngest, grew up in a small village in Huaian, Jiangsu province. The family’s story received global attention when Ji’s daughter, Xiangdi, began sharing videos of their life on a local social media platform.
Speaking with South China Morning Post, Xiangdi said, “My father had a strong desire for a son, which is why they had us nine children. Even though we are daughters, our parents have always loved us very much. They never mistreated us. Now our big family lives happily together. He often told my mother, ‘What’s wrong with daughters? I just like girls. I will do my very best to support their education."
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“We played, fought, and quarrelled together when we were young. We laughed as we grew up. Sisters are my best friends for life. I’m so delighted to have their company," she adds. While many in China believe sons will support them during old age, Xiangdi shared that her father always focused on providing the best education to them and encouraged them to further their studies.
The names of the nine sisters are connected and have a meaning related to having a brother. Zhaodi means ‘soliciting a brother,’ followed by Pandi and Wangdi, both meaning ‘looking forward to a brother.’ Xiangdi translates to ‘thinking of a brother,’ while Laidi hopes that ‘brother is coming.’ Yingdi means ‘welcome a brother,’ and Niandi conveys ‘missing a brother.’ The most unique name is Choudi, which means ‘hating a brother,’ showing the parents’ growing frustration and the youngest, Mengdi, was named ‘dream of a brother.’
Many couples in China still believe that having a son will improve their lives, but in recent years, especially in metro cities, people’s thinking has changed a lot. More citizens now prefer daughters, because of the high bride price that men are supposed to pay when getting married to somebody’s daughter.
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