Using the verb "xing"

The verb 姓 (xìng) literally means "to be surnamed" or "to have the surname." This can be a verb that you'll use quite often.

Giving One's Surname

You can use 姓 (xìng) to tell someone your own surname, or that of someone else.

Structure

Subject + 姓 + Surname

Examples

• 我 姓 王。Wǒ xìng Wáng.My last name is Wang.
• 他 姓 李。Tā xìng Lǐ.His last name is Li.
• 那 个 帅哥 姓 张。Nàgè shuàigē xìng Zhāng.That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
• 我 爸爸 姓 周，我 妈妈 姓 林 。我 叫 周林。Wǒ bàba xìng Zhōu, wǒ māmā xìng Lín. Wǒ jiào Zhōu Lín.My father's last name is Zhou, my mother's last name is Lin. My name is Zhou Lin.
• 我 女朋友 姓 钱。Wǒ nǚ péngyou xìng Qián.My girlfriend's last name is Qian.
• 你好，我 姓 毛。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xìng Máo.Hello. My last name is Mao.
• 我 姓 潘，我 太太 姓 宋。Wǒ xìng Pān, wǒ tàitài xìng Sòng.My last name is Pan. My wife's last name is Song.
• 我 姓 于。Wǒ xìng Yú.My last name is Yu.
• 我 姓 杨。Wǒ xìng Yáng.My last name is Yang.
• 我们 都 姓 李。Wǒmen dōu xìng Lǐ.All of our last names are Li.

Asking Someone's Surname

You can also use 姓 (xìng) to ask people their surnames. You could do this quite directly by saying:

• 你 姓 什么 ? Nǐ xìng shénme?What is your last name?

However, the formal way to ask has a set form:

• 您 贵 姓 ？Nín guìxìng?What is your honorable surname?

Literally this means "What is your honorable surname?" Use this form to be polite when asking people their surnames.

See also

• Using the verb "jiao"
• Introducing people

Sources and further reading

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 22-3) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (p. 39) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 49) →buy