Lesson 6: Chinese names · 贵姓 (polite way to ask a surname)

The structure of Chinese names and how to ask someone's surname and name politely.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 1 · Lesson 6

你贵姓？

Nǐ guìxìng?

May I ask your (honorable) surname?

Explanation

A Chinese name has two parts, the family name and the given name, with the family name first and the given name after it. Most family names are one character; a few have two characters. Given names may have two characters or just one.

贵姓 is a respectful expression used to ask the other person's family name.

Structure

1
姓名
Family name first, given name second. Most family names are one character; given names can be one or two.
- 王伟国
  Wáng Wěiguó
  Wang Weiguo (surname Wang / given name Weiguo)
- 张东
  Zhāng Dōng
  Zhang Dong (surname Zhang / given name Dong)
- 田芳
  Tián Fāng
  Tian Fang (surname Tian / given name Fang)
2
你贵姓？ / 你姓什么？
贵姓 is a respectful way to ask someone's surname; 你姓什么 also asks for a surname.
- 你贵姓？
  Nǐ guìxìng?
  What is your (honorable) surname?
- 你姓什么？
  Nǐ xìng shénme?
  What's your surname?
- 我姓张。
  Wǒ xìng Zhāng.
  My surname is Zhang.
3
你叫什么名字？ — 我叫……
Asking and answering about names.
- 你叫什么名字？
  Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
  What's your name?
- 我叫张东。
  Wǒ jiào Zhāng Dōng.
  My name is Zhang Dong.
4
你是哪国人？ — 你学习什么？
Asking about nationality and about what someone studies (dialogues from the Lesson 6 exercises).
- 你是哪国人？
  Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?
  What nationality are you?
- 我是中国人。
  Wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén.
  I'm Chinese.
- 你学习什么？
  Nǐ xuéxí shénme?
  What do you study?
- 我学习汉语。
  Wǒ xuéxí Hànyǔ.
  I study Chinese.

Practice

19 questions in 2 sets. One at a time, checked instantly, with explanations.

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