* "Kind One": This refers to the idealized, talented daughter that Jing-mei's mother wants her to be. She imagines Jing-mei as a prodigy, excelling in music, or becoming a famous figure like Shirley Temple. This vision is based on the mother's own dreams and aspirations, and the American culture she has embraced.
* "Kind Two": This represents Jing-mei's own identity, which clashes with her mother's expectations. She feels stifled by her mother's constant pressure and desires to be different, to find her own path in life.
The title highlights the conflict between these two "kinds" and the struggle for self-discovery that Jing-mei faces as she navigates her own identity amidst her mother's imposing expectations.