Taiwanese celebrities share humorous tales of rare surnames

A recent episode of the Taiwanese talk show "100% Entertainment," hosted by Shen Yu-lin, delved into the unique experiences of individuals with rare surnames. The show featured celebrities like Tuo Tsung-kang and Qu Chung-hheng, alongside guests with uncommon family names, sharing amusing stories stemming from their identities.

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Someone called me Du Tsung-kang, Chi Tsung-kang, Guang Tsung-kang. Even when booking a table, because the other person didn't know how to write 'Tuo,' I finally had to say my surname is like the 'tuo' in 'ostrich.'

Tuo Tsung-kang, whose surname "Tuo" (庹) is shared by only about 48 people in Taiwan, recounted the constant need to clarify its pronunciation and spelling. He humorously noted that people have called him "Du" (度), "Chi" (尺), or "Guang" (廣) Tsung-kang, and that he often resorts to describing it by referencing the "駝鳥" (ostrich) character's "駝" (tuo) to help people write it down.

Qu Chung-hheng also shared his own surname-related frustrations, recalling how classmates often teased him with nicknames like "Qu Qu Er" (蛐蛐兒) and frequently joked about "going to Zhongheng" (去中橫) during his middle school years.

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My name was often made fun of by classmates. Elders used to call me 'Qu Qu Er,' and in middle school, I was often teased with 'Go to Zhongheng' for fun.

The show also featured guests with the surname "Shen" (神), which is reportedly used by only 17 people in Taiwan. When a guest revealed their surname, Shen Yu-lin playfully adopted a Taoist persona, chanting "Gods, quickly worship!" The guest explained that the most common question they receive is "Why is your surname God?" to which they often reply, "I don't know, I just am God," usually eliciting laughter.

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Gods, quickly worship! Heaven is spiritual, earth is spiritual. Pineapple, watermelon, guava, longan, place them on the table. Pick what you want to eat.

Additionally, the discussion touched upon the surname "Gang" (剛), with Qian Wei-chuan's cousin, Jiang Mu-rou, sharing a story about her brother's name, "Gang Yao Sheng" (剛耀升), which means "born strongly rising." This name was often misread by netizens as "Gang Yao Sheng" (剛要生), implying "about to give birth," leading to a name change. Shen Yu-lin also admitted to a past experience where netizens suggested humorous and sometimes inappropriate nicknames for his daughter based on his surname, "Shen" (沈), including "Shen Shui" (沈水, literally "sink water") and "Shen Dian" (沈電, literally "sink electricity"), and even a Japanese-inspired name, "Shen Yin Shao Nü" (沈隱少女, "hidden young girl"). Tuo Tsung-kang concluded by sharing that he has only ever met one other person with the surname "Tuo" in his life – a woman he encountered at a hair salon over 30 years ago, sparking a humorous exchange about the potential for a "Tuo-Tuo marriage."

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I don't know, I just am God.