BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- China's meteorological authority on Monday released the official Chinese translations of nine new typhoon names that will enter the rotation for the western North Pacific and the South China Sea.
They replace nine names, including Super Typhoon Yagi, that were permanently retired following the devastating 2024 typhoon season. The newcomers, ranging from Dim-sum to Wings, may sound surprisingly gentle for weather systems capable of mass destruction. However, there is a good reason for this.
The typhoon committee is an inter-governmental body established under the joint auspices of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the World Meteorological Organization, comprising 14 members including China. Since 2000, it has overseen the choosing, retirement and replacement of typhoons names in the western North Pacific and the South China Sea.
Each member contributes 10 names, creating a rotating pool of 140 that is cycled through in sequential order regardless of the year. The rules are straightforward: a name must be no more than nine letters, easy to pronounce, free of negative connotations in any member's language and non-commercial.
"Members tend to pick positive, gentle words, and many reflect their cultural identity," said Zhao Wei, director of the typhoon and marine meteorological forecast center at China's National Meteorological Center.
The nine new entries, approved at the committee's 58th session in March, each carry a distinct cultural fingerprint. Cambodia offered Koki, a type of sturdy hardwood commonly used in the country. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea chose Gaeguri, while China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region contributed Dim-sum, a playful nod to its iconic bite-sized cuisine.
Japan provided two star-themed names: Hebi and Tomo, both named after constellations. The Federated States of Micronesia put forward Tirou. The Republic of Korea selected Narae, which means wings. Thailand submitted Burapha. Vietnam looked to nature with Hoaban, named after a beautiful blossom.
But if a cyclone proves particularly deadly, destructive or its name becomes confusing or culturally problematic, the relevant typhoon committee member can propose its removal to the committee. If all members agree, the name is erased from the list and a replacement is put forward.
Since 2000, 85 names have been retired -- 2022 and 2024 share the record with nine each.
The nine names removed following the 2024 season, which were Kong-rey, Toraji, Man-yi, Usagi, Yagi, Ewiniar, Jebi, Krathon and Trami, were all retired due to catastrophic impact.
Super Typhoon Yagi pummeled the Philippines, Hainan Province in south China and Vietnam, while its remnants flooded large parts of Southeast Asia. Typhoons Toraji, Man-yi and Usagi, together with Yinxing (which was not retired), produced a rare "four-typhoon dance" in November 2024, battering the Philippines in quick succession.
The other retired names, including Ewiniar, Jebi, Krathon and Trami, similarly carved paths of destruction that sealed their places in meteorological history. Notable past retirees also include Haiyan (2013), which means petrel in Chinese, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded, and Doksuri (2023), which unleashed historic floods in northern China.
While the new names may conjure images of bamboo steamers and garden blooms, they also carry a weighty responsibility. Once assigned to a storm, a name can become etched in public memory, either as a benign entry in the logbook or as a synonym for catastrophe. ■
