Chinese Domain Name Advice Sought

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by e96, Sep 29, 2011.

  1. #1
    Hello,

    I am starting a new website which will have an English and a Chinese version.

    Any advice on how to name the chinese domain name?

    Basically, I am wondering what is the most natural way to name a Chinese domain name for the audience that this site will target-- educators, students, teachers in high school and college.

    Would it make sense to have a domain name that was "XXX".com where "XXX" are placeholders for the Chinese characters that I can't type? Or should I just stick with an all English domain name. I would think that a domain name with Chinese characters would make more sense but I wonder if it would be bizarre to then tack on the English TLD ".com" on the end?

    I frankly don't know what Chinese websites and urls look like. I just tried googling Chinese websites and all of the ones that I found were written in Chinese but the urls themselves were the only thing in English.

    Any advice is appreciated.
     
    e96, Sep 29, 2011 IP
  2. phxadam

    phxadam Well-Known Member

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    #2
    I dont think you can use chinese characters in a .com name. I was thinking about doing the same thing and learned that your company must have at least 1 chinese employee to register a chinese .CN domain name. My company just registered a .asia domain name.
     
    phxadam, Oct 2, 2011 IP
  3. htmlindex

    htmlindex Prominent Member

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    #3
    Absolutely owning the ChineseCharacters.com name would make the most sense if you're going to have a website in Chinese! I would say to reg that IDN.com name if it's still available.
     
    htmlindex, Oct 2, 2011 IP
  4. lifeplayer

    lifeplayer Notable Member

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    #4
    You can actually just use the english domain name and make a subdomain for the chinese version.
    By the way, as i know what there is a chinese domain name as well which was launched since 2 years ago if not mistaken, you need to get someone know chinese to search the domain for you.
     
    lifeplayer, Oct 2, 2011 IP
  5. adam1987

    adam1987 Well-Known Member

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    #5
    Use Pinyin, or numbers which sound similar to the pinyin... like 51job.com , 51 means "give me"

    The largest Chinese sites have just crated brands using short words, QQ.com , Anjuke.com , sohu.com etc...

    Send me a PM with your sites english name, and i can recommend some Chinese alternatives.
     
    adam1987, Oct 3, 2011 IP
  6. IDN

    IDN Active Member

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    #6
    Agreed with htmlindex. To own a Chinese IDN for your website which site is target the Chinese market will be a plus.
    I'm a native Chinese, if you like to get my suggestion (about the Chinese name of your website), PM me.
     
    IDN, Oct 5, 2011 IP
  7. JerrickYeoh

    JerrickYeoh Active Member

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    #7
    My country was actually provide chinese domain name for free to testing.
    I wonder do it bring lot of traffic?
    i maybe park those chinese and english domain together to the same site.
    So i can target both languages.
     
    JerrickYeoh, Oct 5, 2011 IP
  8. jffdig

    jffdig Greenhorn

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    #8
    xxx.com.cn works well. But not much necessary I think. subdomain is ok.
     
    jffdig, Oct 19, 2011 IP