Funny names of Chinese cars: how not to get confused by “Fast Dragons” and “Flying Tigers”

Over the past 10 years, Chinese cars have firmly entered the world market, but with them came a wave of unusual - and sometimes downright funny - names. "Great Wall", "Flying Tiger", "Swift Dragon" - these names sound like the names of action movies or computer games, not serious vehicles. Why is this happening? It's a matter of cultural characteristics, marketing strategies and... sometimes poor translation.

For a European or Russian buyer, such names may seem absurd, but each of them has its own logic. For example, Changan CS75 in China it is officially called «Yidong», which translates as “mobile” or “mobile”, but is exported under the index. But Geely Emgrand X7 in some countries it was sold as «Englon TX4» - which already sounds like the name of a transformer. In this article, we’ll look at where these names come from, which of them are the funniest, and how to avoid getting into trouble when buying a Chinese car with a “telling” name.

Why do Chinese cars have such strange names?

The main reason is cultural gap between East and West. In China, names often carry symbolic meaning: dragons are associated with strength, tigers with dynamism, and the words “great” or “imperial” emphasize status. For example, Great Wall (Great Wall) is a reference to one of the main symbols of the country. But for a foreigner, such a name can only bring a smile.

The second reason is marketing experiments. Chinese manufacturers are trying to stand out from Japanese and Korean brands, which have long used neutral alphanumeric symbols (Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Tucson). The result is hybrids like «Haval Big Dog» (which translates to "Big Dog") or «Foton Tunland» (a play on words from “tune” - tune and “land” - earth).

• 🐉 Mythological motives: Dragons, phoenixes, tigers are popular symbols in Chinese culture, but sound exotic to Europeans.
• 📜 Historical references: Names like «Hongqi» (“Red Banner”) or «Dongfeng» (“East Wind”) reflect patriotic sentiments.
• 🔤 Phonetic puns: Some names sound nice in Mandarin but lose meaning when translated (for example, «BYD Tang» - a reference to the Tang Dynasty, but to a foreigner it’s just a bunch of letters).

And finally, the third reason - problems with translation. Some names are simply not adapted for export, as a result of which they appear on the Russian market «Lifan Smily» (yes, misspelled “smile”) or «Zotye T600», which local dealers sometimes call "Zotia" - which in itself sounds like a joke.

Top 10 funniest Chinese car names

We have compiled a rating of names that raise the most questions among buyers. Some of them have already become memes in car communities, others simply make you smile when mentioned.

Place	Title (original)	Translation/interpretation	Manufacturer
1	Haval Big Dog	"Big Dog" (reference to loyalty and strength)	Great Wall Motors
2	Foton Tunland	Pun: “tune” + “land”	Foton Motor
3	Geely Emgrand EC7	"EC" stands for "Emgrand Coupe" but sounds like "ik"	Geely
4	Changan CS75 (in China - Yidong)	“Movable”, but for export it’s just an alphanumeric index	Changan
5	BYD Tang	Named after the Tang Dynasty, but associated with the drink	BYD

Stands apart «Lifan Smily» - a car whose name literally translates as “Smiling”. At the same time, the brand logo features a smiley face, which makes the name even more ironic. A «Zotye T600» popularly nicknamed “Zotey” - which is more like the name of a pet than the name of an SUV.

Interesting fact: in 2023, the Chinese brand Hongqi (“Red Banner”) released the model HS7, which in some countries was called «Red Flag» — which literally translates to “Red Flag.” This caused associations with political symbols and even led to a ban on advertising the model in a number of European countries.

How not to buy a “funny” car: 5 rules for the buyer

If you're considering a Chinese car, but are afraid of running into a model with a ridiculous name, follow these tips:

1. Check original title. Simplified indices are often exported (for example, Changan CS75 instead of Yidong). Check with your dealer for the model name in China.
2. Explore the brand's history. Manufacturers like Geely or BYD They have already adapted naming to the global market, but little-known companies can afford to experiment.
3. Pay attention to the logo. If the emblem depicts a dragon or a tiger, there is a good chance that the name will be “bestial”.
4. Read reviews. Automotive communities often discuss not only the technical characteristics, but also the “humorous” side of the models.
5. Check the documentation. The title and insurance must indicate the official name, and not the “folk” nickname (for example, “Zotey” instead of Zotye T600).

Don't forget that the name is not the main thing. Many “funny” cars actually turn out to be reliable and technologically advanced. For example, Haval Big Dog is a full-fledged frame SUV with solid cross-country ability, despite its “dog” name.

Legal nuances: is it possible to re-register a “funny” name?

In Russia and CIS countries model name in documents must match what is specified in PTS and STS. If you don't like the official name (eg. «Foton Tunland»), you can’t just change it to “Photon Adjuster” - this will lead to problems when registering or selling.

However, there are loopholes:

• 📝 Use abbreviated name. For example, instead of «Geely Emgrand EC7» can be specified «Geely EC7» - this is not against the law.
• 🔄 Re-register a car through a dealer. Some official representatives meet halfway and add an adapted name to the documents (for example, «Haval H6» instead of «Haval Big Dog»).
• 🚗 Buy the "European" version. Some EU models are given neutral names (e.g. MG ZS instead of «Morris Garage ZS»).

⚠️ Attention: If you yourself enter an unofficial name into the PTS (for example, “Zotey” instead of Zotye T600), this may be regarded as document falsification. At best, you will be denied registration; at worst, an administrative case will be opened.

If you are worried not so much about the legal side as about the psychological discomfort of the name, remember that many premium brands also started with strange names. For example, «Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost» ("Silver Ghost") or «Bugatti Veyron» (named after the racer, but sounds like the name of a dish).

Cultural code: what lies behind the “dragons” and “tigers”?

To understand the logic of Chinese names, you need to understand the symbolism. Here is what the most popular “animal” and “mythological” motifs mean:

• 🐲 Dragon (, moon): Symbol of power, luck and strength. In China, dragons are associated with emperors and protection. For example, «Changan Alsvin» in some versions it has dragon motifs in its design.
• 🐯 Tiger (hu): Represents courage and dynamism. Hence the names like «Haval F7» (in China they called him the “Flying Tiger”).
• 🦅 Phoenix (, fenghuang): Symbol of rebirth and prosperity. Less commonly used in naming, but found in logos.
• 🏯 Imperial motifs: Words “great”, “imperial”, “royal” («Hongqi» - “Red Banner”) emphasize the status of the brand.

Sometimes the names are associated with Feng Shui philosophy. For example, BYD Tang named after the Tang Dynasty (618–907), considered the golden age of China. A «Geely Emgrand» contains the particle “grand” (great), which should attract success.

For a European this may seem far-fetched, but in China the name of the car is perceived as part of its “energy”. Buyers believe that a car with the “right” name will bring good luck. Therefore, you should not be surprised if at the presentation of a new «Changan UNI-T» (where “UNI” refers to unity, and “T” refers to technology) will talk about the harmony of yin and yang.

Why are there no “unlucky” names in China?

In Chinese culture there is a concept of “dissonant” words (xiayin). For example, the number "4" (, sy) sounds like the word "death" (, sy), so it is avoided in naming. The same applies to combinations reminiscent of curses or misfortune. That's why you won't see Chinese cars with names like "Si" or "Shi" - even if it's an abbreviation.

How do Chinese brands adapt names for export?

As global sales increase, manufacturers are beginning to take into account the cultural characteristics of other countries. Here's how the naming changes:

1. Neutral indices. Instead «Yidong» — Changan CS75, instead «Englon TX4» — Geely Emgrand X7.
2. Abbreviations. For example, MG (Morris Garage) or BYD (Build Your Dreams) - short and memorable.
3. Localization. In Russia Haval F7 sometimes called "Haval Ef7" to avoid associations with the letter "F".
4. Abandoning mythology. New models (eg Zeekr 001 or NIO ET7) receive digital indices, like Tesla.

However, a complete abandonment of “speaking” names is unlikely. For example, Hongqi (“Red Banner”) will never become simple HQ, because the brand is closely related to the history of China. A Great Wall (“The Great Wall”) is already part of the company’s global image.

Trend of recent years: Chinese manufacturers are starting to register names as trademarks in advance to avoid oddities. For example, BYD patented the name «Sea Lion» (“Sea Lion”) for the future electric car - and this is no longer a translation, but a deliberate marketing ploy.

Memes and jokes: how do car enthusiasts react to names?

In Russian and Western car communities, Chinese names have long been a source of memes. Here are the most popular jokes:

• 😂 «Haval Big Dog» → “The dog is big, but eats little” (reference to economy).
• 🤣 «Foton Tunland» → “Photon Tuned” (a play on words with the name).
• 😅 «Zotye T600» → “Zotey, let’s go!” (like a horse's name).
• 🧐 «Geely Emgrand EC7» → “Emgrand Ixepe” (like a curse word in reverse).

In the West, the meme about «Great Wall Haval» - they say, “the great wall of hawala” (from the word “hawala”). In China, on the contrary, they laugh at Western names. For example, «Ford Kuga» in Mandarin it sounds like "ku-ga", which means "bitter gourd".

Some dealers even play on this. For example, in Russia Haval F7 advertised with the slogan: “F is like Fantasy, 7 is like Seven troubles - one answer.” This is an example of marketers trying to turn a strange name into an advantage.

⚠️ Attention: If you buy a Chinese car secondhand, check whether the “funny” name is a consequence of unofficial import. For example, some "Zotei" were brought to Russia as gray schemes, and their names in the PTS could be indicated with errors. This can cause problems when selling or insuring.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the names of Chinese cars

Why are Chinese cars named after animals?

In Chinese culture, animals symbolize certain qualities: the dragon - strength, the tiger - courage, the phoenix - good luck. Manufacturers believe that such names will bring success to the model. In addition, it helps to stand out from competitors with neutral names (like Toyota Camry).

Is it possible to officially change the name of the car in the documents?

No, officially change the model name in PTS or STS You can’t - it’s tantamount to falsifying documents. However, shortened or adapted versions may be used (e.g. «Haval H6» instead of «Haval Big Dog»), if they are recognized by the manufacturer.

Which Chinese brands avoid “funny” names?

Globally oriented brands are more likely to use neutral indices. For example:

• BYD (Sea Lion, Dolphin - names of animals, but in English).
• NIO (ET7, ES6 - alphanumeric designations).
• Zeekr (001, 009 - like Tesla).

But Great Wall or Changan they are still experimenting with “talking” names.

Do European or Japanese cars have “funny” names?

Yes, and there are many of them! For example:

• Mazda Bongo (“Bongo” is the name of the drum).
• Nissan Moco (“Moko” sounds like “wet”).
• Ford Probe (“Probe” is associated with medical procedures).
• Mitsubishi Pajero (in Spanish-speaking countries this is a dirty word).

So the Chinese are not original in terms of funny names!

How to check if a “funny” name is a sign of a low-quality car?

The name itself does not indicate quality. For example, Haval Big Dog - a reliable SUV, and Geely Emgrand — one of the safest cars in its class. Evaluate technical specifications, owner reviews and crash test results, not the model name. However, if the name sounds too exotic, you should be wary: perhaps it is a little-known brand without a service network.