Chen - Definition and Overview

Chén (Simplified Chinese: 陈, Traditional Chinese: 陳) is one of the four most common Chinese family names (its exact position varies depending on the set of statistics used). It is occasionally romanized Chern in 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 languages) include Tan and Ding. The Vietnamese version of Chén is written as "Trần".

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

Prominent people with family name 陳

• Rulers of the Chen Dynasty
• 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
• Chen, Joan, (born 1960), actress
• Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China
• Chen, Sisy, 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

Fictional characters with surname Chan

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

Other meanings

• 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 (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.