親愛的乃森：

你好嗎？時間過得很快，再過一個月，你就要六歲了。看著你一天天的長大，阿公不禁想起當初為你取中文名字的經過。今天阿公要和你分享它的由來和含義，其中有阿公對你很深的祝福與期許。

快要六年前當你出生時，你的媽咪已經為你想好了英文名字《Nathan》，她要阿公根據這個英文名字來給你取中文名字。這對阿公是一個很大的挑戰。

為什麼呢？第一，因為你的中文姓名要跟隨你一輩子，所以阿公認為筆劃要簡單，易寫易懂最重要。不要像阿公的姓名筆劃共有三十七劃，很小的時候參加考試，光寫姓名就花去很多時間，以致於常常輸在起跑點。第二，中文名字讀起來要與英文名字類似。第三，姓和名要有意義且要連貫。

首先阿公在想，你的英文姓直接音譯成中文應該是「柏」。柏是一種溫帶的常綠喬木，鱗形針葉，有很高的樹幹，不怕強風，無懼寒冷，可以在惡劣的環境下成長茁壯。中國人常拿它和松放在一起讚美，譬如古代最有名的教育家孔夫子就曾經說過：「歲寒，然後知松柏之後凋也」。就是藉由松柏在最寒冷的季節裏，也不會凋謝的事實，來形容一個正直堅強的人在困境中，不會改變他的意志與節操。

「孤獨之柏」(Lone Cypress)

上次你們到蒙特瑞灣 (Monterey Bay) 做家庭旅行，你還記得那棵長在懸崖上的「孤獨之柏」(Lone Cypress) 嗎？它在十七哩路 (17-mile Drive) 一隅的陡陗岩壁上已屹立了250年，經歷過許多狅風暴雨，驚濤拍岸的考驗，至今仍舊安然無恙，四季長青，深情地俯視著蔚藍的海洋。

「孤獨之柏」不屈不撓的精神固然值得學習，但是你在人生的道路上是不會孤獨的。你現在有爸爸、媽媽、妹妹、阿公、阿嬤，還有許多親戚、朋友、老師、同學圍繞著你，陪伴著你長大；將來更會遇到很多很多貴人，和你擦出不同的火花，攜手並肩地合作。

中文字體的結構很奇妙。如果是一棵樹就是「木」，二棵樹變成「林」，三棵樹聚在一起就是「森」，而森林就是指英文裏的《Forest》。阿公希望你長得像柏樹一樣，不怕苦、不怕難，永遠挺起胸膛，勇於面對挑戰。另一方面也期待你能和志同道合的夥伴合作，像你現在參加的足球隊一樣，相互支援合作，因為團隊的力量大，必能更有效率地達到目標。

中國人常用折筷子來形容團結的重要。一根筷子很容易就被折斷，但是二根一起就不容易，而三根以上更難了。你看那「孤獨之柏」站在懸崖最前端，自己一棵要單獨承擔太重的風雨壓力，雖然存活下來，但是花了好多力氣，難免有點憔悴。但是它後面第二線和第三線的柏樹們則漸聚漸多，互相遮風擋雨，所以越長越密集，枝葉越來越茂盛，終於成為森林。這就是團隊合作的好處。

以上就是你的姓名「柏乃森」誕生的經過－出之於柏，而成於森。既堅強，又獨立；而且融入這個社會，成為團隊裏的中堅分子。阿公對你有信心！你做得到的。

希望你喜歡這個中文名字，很有意思，聽起很像你的英文姓名，好記；筆劃也只有二十三劃，比阿公的好寫多了！

好的中文姓名是一個好的開始。祝你
努力不懈
循序漸進

想你的阿公
二〇一九年三月二十二日
乃森五歲十一個月

Dear Nathan:

How are you? Time really flies. Another month later, you will be six years old. Watching you grow up day by day, grandpa cant help but think of the process I went through to create the Chinese name for you. Today, grandpa wants to share with you its origin and meaning. Among them, grandpa has deep blessings and expectations for you.

When you were born almost six years ago, your mommy has already decided your English as "Nathan". She wanted grandpa to name you in Chinese according to this English name. This is a big challenge for grandpa.

Why? First, because your Chinese name will follow you for a lifetime, grandpa thinks that strokes should be simple, easy to write and understand which is most important. Take grandpas Chinese name as an example, it has a total of 37 strokes that takes a long time to write. At every exam when I was little, it took me so long to write my name while others had already moved forwarded to the question parts. Second, the Chinese name should be read similar to the English name. Third, the first and last names must be meaningful and coherent.

First of all, grandpa thinks that your English surname can be transliterated into Chinese as "柏", which means "cypress". It is a kind of temperate evergreen tree with scaly needle-shaped leaves and tall trunks. It is not afraid of strong winds and cold climate, and can grow to be tough in harsh environment. The Chinese often praised it with pine. For example, Confucius, the most famous educator in ancient times, once said: "Even in the coldest climate, never wither the pines and cypresses." It is through the fact that pines and cypresses in the coldest season will not wither, to describe a person who is upright and strong in the predicament, will not change his will and exercise.

Last time you went to Monterey Bay for a family trip, do you remember the Lone Cypress that grows on the cliff? It has stood on the steep rock at one corner of the 17-mile Drive for 250 years. It has survived the challenges of many severe storms and crushing waves, and is still safe, sound, evergreen throughout the seasons, and looking down on the blue ocean passionately.

The indomitable spirit of "Lone Cypress" is worth learning, but you will not be alone in the path of life. You now have many people including daddy, mommy, sister, grandpa, grandma, as well as relatives, friends, teachers, classmates around you, accompanying you to grow up; in the future, you will even encounter a lot of special people that interact, and work side by side with you.

The structure of Chinese characters is wonderful. If a tree is "木", two trees become "林", three trees are together as "森"，and the word "森林" refers to "Forest" in English which contain many trees. Grandpa hopes that you will grow like a cypress, not afraid of suffering, not afraid of difficulties, always stand up and face the challenge. On the other hand, I hope that you can become a team player by cooperating with like-minded partners and supporting each other like the football team you are participating in now. Because team work is often very powerful, you will be able to achieve your goals in a more efficient way.

Chinese people often use breaking chopsticks to describe the importance of unity. A chopstick is easily broken, but the two together are not easy, and three or more are even harder. You see that "Lonely Cypress" stands at the forefront of the cliff, and just by itself has to bear strong wind and heavy rain pressures. Although it survived, how much effort it took was inevitable. However, the cypress trees behind the second and third lines are gradually gathering more and more, sheltering each other from the wind and rain, so the longer and denser the branches and leaves are more and more lush, finally becoming a forest. This is the benefit of teamwork.

This is how your name "柏乃森" was created-out of the cypress, then becomes a forest. Strong and independent; and integrated into the society as the backbone of the team. Grandpa has confidence in you! You can do it.

I hope you like this Chinese name. Its Interesting, it sounds like your English name, and Its easy to remember. In addition, the number of strokes is only twenty-three, much easier to write than Grandpas. 
A good Chinese name is a good start. Wish you
Continue the Efforts
Make Gradual Progress 

Miss You,

Grandpa

March 22, 2019
Nathan was five year and eleven month old