Difference between revisions of "Using the verb "xing""

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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
The verb 姓 (xìng) literally means "to be surnamed" or "to have the surname."
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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 ==
 
== Giving One's Surname ==
  
You can use 姓 to tell someone your own surname, or that of someone else.
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(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 ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 姓 + Surname
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Subj. + 姓 + [Surname]
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>姓</em> 王。<span class="trans">My last name is Wang.</span>
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*我 <em>姓</em> 王。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xìng</em> Wáng.</span><span class="trans">My family name is Wang.</span>
* <em>姓</em> 李。<span class="trans">His last name is Li.</span>
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*你 老板 <em>姓</em> 李 吗?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ lǎobǎn <em>xìng</em> Lǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">Is your boss's last name Li?</span>
* 那 个 帅哥 <em>姓</em> 张。<span class="trans">That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.</span>
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*那 个 帅哥 <em>姓</em> 张。<span class="pinyin">Nàge shuàigē <em>xìng</em> Zhāng.</span><span class="trans">That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.</span>
* 我爸爸<em>姓</em>周,我妈妈<em>姓</em>李,我叫周林。<span class="trans">My father's last name is Zhou, my mother's last name is Li. My name is Zhou Lin.</span>
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*我 爸爸 <em>姓</em> 周,我 妈妈 <em>姓</em> 林 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bàba <em>xìng</em> Zhōu, wǒ māma <em>xìng</em> Lín.</span><span class="trans">My father's family name is Zhou. My mother's family name is Lin.</span>
* 我女朋友<em>姓</em>钱。<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
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*他 女朋友 <em>姓</em> 钱。<span class="pinyin">Tā nǚpéngyou <em>xìng</em> Qián.</span><span class="trans">His girlfriend's last name is Qian.</span>
* 你好,我<em>姓</em>毛,我叫毛思平。<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
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*你好,我 <em>姓</em> 毛。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ hǎo, wǒ <em>xìng</em> Máo.</span><span class="trans">Hello. My last name is Mao.</span>
* 我<em>姓</em>潘,我太太<em>姓</em>宋。<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
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*我 <em>姓</em> 赵,我 太太 也 <em>姓</em> 赵。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xìng</em> Zhào, wǒ tàitai yě <em>xìng</em> Zhào.</span><span class="trans">My last name is Zhao. My wife's last name is also Zhao.</span>
* 我<em>姓</em>于。<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
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*我 的 中文 老师 <em>姓</em> 陈。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī <em>xìng</em> Chén.</span><span class="trans">My Chinese teacher's surname is Chen.</span>
* <em>姓</em>杨。<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
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*你 奶奶 也 <em>姓</em> 陈 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ nǎinai yě <em>xìng</em> Chén ma?</span><span class="trans">Is your grandma's family name also Chen?</span>
* 我们都<em>姓</em>李。<span class="trans">TRANSLATION</span>
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*他们 都 <em>姓</em> 李。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen dōu <em>xìng</em> Lǐ.</span><span class="trans">All of their surnames are Li.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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== Asking Someone's Surname ==
 
== Asking Someone's Surname ==
  
You can also use 姓 to ask people their surnames. You could do this quite directly by saying:
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You can also use 姓 (xìng) to ask people their surnames. You could do this quite directly by saying:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 姓 什么 ? <span class="trans">What is your last name?</span>
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* 你 姓 什么? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xìng shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is your last name?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 您 贵 姓 ?<span class="trans">What is your honourable surname?</span>
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* 您 贵 姓 ?<span class="pinyin">Nín guì xìng?</span><span class="trans">What is your honorable surname?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Literally this means "What is your honourable surname?" Use this form to be polite when asking people their surnames.
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Literally this means "What is your honorable surname?" Use this form to be polite when asking people their surnames.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  
*[[Using the verb jiao]]
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*[[Using the verb "jiao"]]
 
*[[Introducing people]]
 
*[[Introducing people]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 22-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|83}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|22-3}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|39}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|49}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
{{Used for|Introducing people}}
 
{{Used for|Introducing people}}
{{Basic Grammar|姓|A1|姓 + (Surname)|你 <em>姓</em> 什么 ?|grammar point|ASGPS9NY}}
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{{Basic Grammar|姓|A1|姓 + Surname|你 <em>姓</em> 什么 ?|grammar point|ASGPS9NY}}
 
{{Similar|Using the verb jiao}}
 
{{Similar|Using the verb jiao}}
 
{{Similar|Introducing people}}
 
{{Similar|Introducing people}}
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{{Rel char|姓}}
 
{{POS|Verbs}}
 
{{POS|Verbs}}
 
{{Subprop|Verbs}}
 
{{Subprop|Verbs}}
 
{{Translation|call}}
 
{{Translation|call}}

Latest revision as of 08:55, 21 April 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-xing (1).jpg

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

  • 王。xìng Wáng.My family name is Wang.
  • 你 老板 李 吗? Nǐ lǎobǎn xìng Lǐ ma?Is your boss's last name Li?
  • 那 个 帅哥 张。Nàge shuàigē xìng Zhāng.That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
  • 我 爸爸 周,我 妈妈 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 钱。Tā nǚpéngyou xìng Qián.His girlfriend's last name is Qian.
  • 你好,我 毛。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xìng Máo.Hello. My last name is Mao.
  • 赵,我 太太 也 赵。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 陈。Wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī xìng Chén.My Chinese teacher's surname is Chen.
  • 你 奶奶 也 陈 吗 ? Nǐ nǎinai yě xìng Chén ma?Is your grandma's family name also Chen?
  • 他们 都 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

Sources and further reading