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Chén (Simplified Chinese: 陈, Traditional Chinese: 陳) is one of the four most common Chinese family names, and the most common family name in Taiwan (its exact position varies depending on the set of statistics used). It is occasionally romanized Chern in Singapore Mandarin Chinese (where "r" indicates the second tone in the Gwoyeu Romatzyh romanization system). It is usually romanized as Chan in Cantonese, sometimes as Chun, Chin or Zen. Some other Romanizations (from other Chinese dialects) include Tan and Ding.

Chen is also a Hebrew family name used by Israelis. It is pronounced khen, and meaning grace or favor.

Contents 1 History 2 Other variations 3 Prominent people 4 Fictional characters with surname Chen 5 Other meanings of Chen

History

Initial surname Chen was from Gui (Chinese:媯, pinyin: Gūi), which was an ancient Chinese surname of descendants of Emperor Shun, who was one of the Three August Ones and the Five Emperors. When King Wu of Zhou established Zhou Dynasty, he gave the Land of Chen to the descendants to established their own state. To show his respect for Emperor Shun, the new state, which was also named by Chen, was one of the Three Guest States of Zhou (Chinese:三恪, pinyin: Sān Kè), which meant this nation was not the subordinate, but the guest of Zhou. However, this state was occupied by Chu after 10th Century BC. Since then, the people of this state began to use Chen as their surname.

    Also, Chen can be used as a word to describe someone who is loadful, slothful, or aloof.  
    The word Chen can be used in many grammatical ways.

Noun: "He ate a large bowl of soup, ribs, potatoes, meatloaf, vegetables, and bread in one sitting". He is such a "chen".

   2.  "He broke his ankle at a school dance".  What a "chen".

Verb: He "chened" himself by laying in a pile of his own sweet and filth on an old couch with no shirt on and a beer in both hands.

Adjective: It was a "chen" laugh that all could hear miles away.

Those most prone to chenful acts typically locate in the suburbs of Philadelphia and breed quickly. The people must be feared for their ridiculous sense of humor and loud laughter. That is all.

Other variations

• Tan (Tân), used in the Min Nan dialects, including Taiwanese, Teochew and Hainanese
• Tang
• Chin, used in the Hakka dialect
• Chan, used in the Cantonese dialect
• Ding, used in the Hokchew dialect
• Zen, used in the Shanghai dialect
• Chun or Jin, used in Korean
• Trần, used in Vietnamese

Northern dialect pronounce the "Tr" as a "Ch"(Chan) sound meanwhile the middle and southern dialects pronounce it as a "Tr" (Tran.)]

Prominent people

• Ruler of Landsdowne - The Chen
• Rulers of the Chen Dynasty
• Rulers of the Tran Dynasty
• Chen Shui-bian, first non-KMT President of the Republic of China(Taiwan)
• Anna Chan Chennault, first female reporter for the Central News Agency
• Jackie Chan, actor
• Chen Duxiu, Communist Party of China founder
• Chen Jingrun, (1933-1996), mathematician
• Kelly Chen, Hong Kong Singer
• Joan Chen, (born 1960), actress
• Sisy Chen, Taiwanese politician
• Steve Chen, supercomputer designer
• Chen Tsyr-shiou, Chairman of Taiwan Province
• Chen Yi, Chinese communist military commander
• Chen Yi, Chief executive of Taiwan Province
• Chen Yuanyuan, concubine of Wu Sangui
• Shiing-Shen Chern, mathematician
• Ming W. Chin, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court
• Tiffany Chin, figure skater
• Vincent Chin, victim of racial crime
• Chun Doo Hwang
• Tran Hung Dao
• Arthur Chin, fighter ace
• Chen Hong, Chinese badminton player
• Chen Yu, Chinese badminton player

Fictional characters with surname Chen

• Charlie Chan, fictional detective
• Chen is a fictional character in the British science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf

Other meanings of Chen

• Chen Dynasty of the Southern dynasties
• Chen (state) during the Zhou Dynasty, was rewarded to a descendant of Shun by King Wu of Zhou. In parts of today's Anhui and Henan.
• Chen Bridge is where a military uprising began (陳橋兵變) that led to the establishment of Song Dynasty (960-1279).
• Chen style Taijiquan is the senior family school of that well-known Chinese martial art.
• Chen is a genus of geese, which is sometimes included in Anser.

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