How to make name badges with Chinese and English names on two lines

Step by step in Zavemate

1. Put each name in one column Write the Chinese and English name in the same cell, in either order: “陳大文 Chan Tai Man” or “Chan Tai Man 陳大文”. If your list has them in two columns, join them in Excel with =A2&" "&B2 and fill the formula down.
2. Open the tool and load the list Open the self-serve tool for name badges, sign in with your email and open your Excel or CSV file, or paste the rows. Choose which column is the name and which columns print below it, such as title or company.
3. Tick “Chinese and English names on two lines” Click the name on the card, then tick the box in the toolbar above the card. The Conference badge, Wedding place card and Course certificate templates already have it on.
4. Check the proof Look through the watermarked proof at actual size. Both lines of a name use the same size, which gets smaller until the longer line fits; any name shrunk below 60% of the design size is listed for you to check.
5. Download and print Download the print sheet (A4 or A3, with cut lines) and one PDF per person. Print at 100% / Actual size and cut along the lines.

Which names go on two lines

A name is split when it has exactly one Chinese part and one English part. The order in your list is kept.

A title such as “Dr.” mixed into the name keeps it on one line. Put titles in a column of their own and print them as a separate line instead.

Tips for bilingual badges

• Fonts: the files use Noto Sans TC, an open-source font with Traditional Chinese and English, embedded in every PDF. If you choose one of the Latin fonts for the name, a line with Chinese characters still uses Noto Sans TC, so no character turns into an empty box.
• Very long names: if the proof lists a name as shrunk a lot, shorten it in the list — for example use the English given name — and make the proof again.
• Two-sided badges: a two-sided badge prints the badge twice on one strip to fold into the holder, so the name still shows when it turns on the lanyard.
• The same option is there for certificates and place cards; folded place cards print the name on both halves.

Doing it with Word mail merge

A mail merge can also put names on two lines, but it needs the Chinese and English names in separate columns and won't fit long names for you:

1. Split the names into two columns (Chinese, English) in Excel.
2. In Word, start a label merge for your badge size and insert the two merge fields on two separate lines.
3. Use one font that has both Chinese and English (for example Noto Sans TC) for both lines, so they match and no characters go missing.
4. Preview every record: long names wrap or get cut off, and their size has to be fixed by hand or in a separate merge.
5. Save as PDF with the fonts embedded and open it on another computer before printing.

Common problems →