Using the verb "xing"

The verb 姓 (xìng) literally means "to be surnamed" or "to have the surname."

Giving One's Surname

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

Structure

Subject + 姓 + Surname

Examples

• 我 姓 王。My last name is Wang.
• 他 姓 李。His last name is Li.
• 那 个 帅哥 姓 张。That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
• 我爸爸姓周，我妈妈姓李，我叫周林。My father's last name is Zhou, my mother's last name is Li. My name is Zhou Lin.
• 我女朋友姓钱。My girlfriend's last name is Qian.
• 你好，我姓毛，我叫毛思平。Hello. My last name is Mao. My name is Mao Siping.
• 我姓潘，我太太姓宋。My last name is Pan. My wife's last name is Song.
• 我姓于。My last name is Yu.
• 我姓杨。My last name is Yang.
• 我们都姓李。All of our last names are Li.

Asking Someone's Surname

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

• 你 姓 什么 ? What is your last name?

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

• 您 贵 姓 ？What is your honourable surname?

Literally this means "What is your honourable 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