Names and Introductions
Saying your name, asking someone else's, surnames, and "nice to meet you."
My name is...
To give your name, use 我叫 (wǒ jiào) + name: 我叫李明 (wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng) ("I'm called Li Ming"). To ask, put the question word where the answer goes: 你叫什么名字？ (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) -- literally "you are-called what name?"
什么 (shénme) means "what." Chinese questions keep normal word order: the question word simply sits where the answer will go.
Quick check
1. Put the words in order.
Hint: “What's your name?”
Surnames come first
Chinese names put the family name first: in 王芳 (Wáng Fāng), 王 is the surname. 我姓王 (wǒ xìng Wáng) means "my surname is Wang."
The polite way to ask someone's surname is 您贵姓？ (nín guìxìng?) ("your honourable surname?"). Answer with 我姓 (wǒ xìng) + surname -- never with 贵, which is only for the other person.
Titles follow the surname: 王老师 (Wáng lǎoshī) (Teacher Wang), 李先生 (Lǐ xiānsheng) (Mr Li).
Quick check
1. In the name 张伟 (Zhāng Wěi), which part is the surname?
Nice to meet you
认识你很高兴 (rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng) means "nice to meet you" -- literally "knowing you, (I'm) very happy." Often shortened to 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ), with the same meaning.
The reply is 我也很高兴 (wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng), "I'm happy too." 也 (yě) means "also."
Try it yourself
Write a sentence or two using what this lesson covered. Not graded -- just for you, saved so you can come back to it.
Pick with a tap, a number key or Space. A Chinese keyboard on your device works in the box below too.
Final review
0/16 answered across this lesson
1. Complete (characters or pinyin).
2. Complete (characters or pinyin).
3. Someone asks 您贵姓？ Your surname is Smith. What do you say?
4. Put the words in order.
Hint: “My name is Wang Fang.”
5. Put the words in order.
Hint: “Nice to meet you.”
6. Translate into English.
7. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
8. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
9. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
10. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
11. Match each word to its meaning.
12. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
13. Introduce yourself in Chinese.
Say your answer out loud and record it, then compare it with the model.
Tip: Put your own name after 我叫.
14. On your first day of Chinese class you sit next to a classmate, Li Ming (李明), and then the teacher arrives. Write a short dialogue: greet each other, give and ask names, ask the teacher's surname politely, and say goodbye.
- Greet with 你好 / 老师好 and say goodbye with 再见 or 明天见
- Give your name with 我叫… and ask with 你叫什么名字？
- Ask the teacher's surname politely with 您贵姓？ and answer with 我姓…
- Close the introduction with 认识你很高兴
Pick with a tap, a number key or Space. A Chinese keyboard on your device works in the box below too.
0 characters · aim for 30–70