Using the verb "xing"

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

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

  • 王。xìng Wáng.My last name is Wang.
  • 李。xìng Lǐ.His last name is Li.
  • 那 个 帅哥 张。Nàgè shuàigē xìng Zhāng.That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
  • 我 爸爸 周,我 妈妈 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 钱。Wǒ nǚ péngyǒu xìng Qián.My girlfriend's last name is Qian.
  • 你好,我 毛。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xìng Máo.Hello. My last name is Mao.
  • 潘,我 太太 宋。xìng Pān, wǒ tàitài xìng Sòng.My last name is Pan. My wife's last name is Song.
  • 于。xìng Yú.My last name is Yu.
  • 杨。xìng Yáng.My last name is Yang.
  • 我们 都 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

Sources and further reading