Using the verb "xing"

Revision as of 09:25, 5 September 2013 by Yucui (talk | contribs)
Chinese-grammar-wiki-xing (1).jpg

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

  • 王。My last name is Wang.
  • 李。His last name is Li.
  • 那 个 帅哥 张。That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
  • 我爸爸周,我妈妈姓,我叫周林。TRANSLATION
  • 我女朋友钱。TRANSLATION
  • 你好,我毛,我叫毛思平。TRANSLATION
  • 潘,我太太宋。TRANSLATION
  • 于。TRANSLATION
  • 杨。TRANSLATION
  • 我们都李。TRANSLATION

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

Sources and further reading