Using the verb "xing"

The verb 姓 (xìng) literally means "to be surnamed" or "to have the surname." It may seem awkward at first that there's a verb just for this, but you'll find that it's used quite often in Chinese.

Giving One's Surname

姓 (xìng) is used most often to tell someone your own surname ("family name" or "last name"), or to ask the surname of someone else.

Structure

Subj. + 姓 + [Surname]

Examples

• 我 姓 王。Wǒ xìng Wáng.My family name is Wang.
• 你 老板 姓 李 吗？ Nǐ lǎobǎn xìng Lǐ ma?Is your boss's last name Li?
• 那 个 帅哥 姓 张。Nàge shuàigē xìng Zhāng.That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
• 我 爸爸 姓 周，我 妈妈 姓 林 。Wǒ bàba xìng Zhōu, wǒ māma xìng Lín.My father's family name is Zhou. My mother's family name is Lin.
• 他 女朋友 姓 钱。Tā nǚpéngyou xìng Qián.His girlfriend's last name is Qian.
• 你好，我 姓 毛。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xìng Máo.Hello. My last name is Mao.
• 我 姓 赵，我 太太 也 姓 赵。Wǒ xìng Zhào, wǒ tàitai yě xìng Zhào.My last name is Zhao. My wife's last name is also Zhao.
• 我 的 中文 老师 姓 陈。Wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī xìng Chén.My Chinese teacher's surname is Chen.
• 你 奶奶 也 姓 陈 吗 ？ Nǐ nǎinai yě xìng Chén ma?Is your grandma's family name also Chen?
• 他们 都 姓 李。Tāmen dōu xìng Lǐ.All of their surnames 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 guì xìng?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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →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