中國政府計劃限制"外國"地名的命名

China is planning to introduce new restrictions on place names because of concerns that too many fail to reflect national culture.

中國正計劃出臺新的地名限制措施，因爲有太多地名不能反映民族的文化。

The country's civic affairs minister, Li Liguo, wants anyone naming sites such as bridges, buildings and roads to take inspiration from Chinese history, instead of opting for foreign names like "Manhattan Plaza", Beijing News reports.

據新京報報道，中國民政部部長李立國表示，希望所有人能夠爲如橋樑，建築物和道路等地點命名，從中國歷史中獲取靈感，而不是選擇如“曼哈頓廣場”一樣的外國名字。

Existing names which fall foul of the requirements will also be changed, according to the paper.

據新京報報道，現有不合規的地點名稱將會被替換。

Mr Li says "cleaning up" place names will "strengthen and standardise cultural protection", and promote China's cultural heritage.

李立國部長表示，“清理”地名會“加強和規範文化保護”，推廣中國的文化遺產。

According to the Xinhua news agency, the first places to be renamed will be any that "damage national dignity" or conflict with core socialist values, as well as those which have attracted the most public complaints.

據新華社報道，第一批需要重命名的地名是那些“損壞國家尊嚴”或違背社會主義價值觀的，以及那些引起最多市民投訴的地點。

Places which promise more than they deliver are also in the government's sights - so anywhere adopting Venice as part of its name will need to have more than just a pond, the agency notes.

新華社指出，那些名過其實的地名也進入了政府的視野中，舉例來說，叫'威尼斯'的地方不能僅僅只擁有一個池塘。

Social media users are divided on the issue, with some pointing out that foreign names are often chosen as a way of celebrating ties with other cities or countries.

社交媒體用戶對此持不同意見，一些人指出選擇外國名字通常是慶祝與其他城市或國家的關係的一種方式。

There's plenty of support, though, with one person writing: "They really should change, or else we'll feel there are no Chinese historical elements!"

也有很多人對此表示支持，一位用戶寫到：“許多地方真的需要改以下名字，不然我們覺得都沒有中國歷史元素！”