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My name is Xiaodong Yan, the original Chinese characters of my name is: 闫晓栋
Both my father’s and mother’s family names are Yan (闫), so my surname comes from both of them. In that sense, my name is “crowned” by my parents together, rather than following only the paternal line. Xiao (晓) is the generational character shared among my cousins in our extended family, symbolizing continuity and belonging. Dong (栋) literally means “pillar.” More deeply, it reflects my parents’ wish for me to become “有着坚韧意志的栋梁之才”—someone with resilience, integrity, and determination, a backbone of society who does good and meaningful work.
One more fun fact: at home, my parents often call me Kai (凯) as a nickname, which carries another blessing—“志在四方 (The Dream Maker)”.
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