Y.R.Chao(ZhaoYuan-ren)wasborninTianjin,Nov.3rd,1892.AfterreceptionoftraditionalChineseeducationinhisboyhood,hewassenttoahighschoolinNankingtoreceivemoderneducation.in1910,hewonanationalscholarshipandwenttoCornellUniversitytostudyscienceandmathematics.Whengraduatedin1914,hewasacceptedbyHarvardforgradu-atestudyinphilosphy,andreceivdehisPh.D.degreein1918.In1919hebegantoteachphysicsatTsinghuaCollegeinPeking.WhenBertrandRussellhadhisIecturingtourinChina,Y.R.Chaowasaskedtobetheinterpreter.Duringthetour,Chaoshowedexceptionalabilityinusingdifferentlocaldialectsforthetranslationsinsouthernregion.