✈ NETCHAI Inbound Chinese Course

Names and Self-Introduction自我介绍

LESSON
02

01Intro

Learn how to ask for and give a name. Use the casual "你叫什么名字？" and the polite "您贵姓？" appropriately, and be able to say "Nice to meet you."

02Words

1
请问(v.)
qǐngwènmay I ask
2
贵姓(n.)
guìxìngyour name (polite, asking the surname)
3
姓(v.)
xìngto have the surname …
4
叫(v.)
jiàoto be called (by name)
5
名字(n.)
míngziname
6
什么(pron.)
shénmewhat
7
认识(v.)
rènshito get to know, to be acquainted with
8
很(adv.)
hěnvery
9
高兴(adj.)
gāoxìnghappy, glad

03Patterns

1
你nǐ叫jiào什么shénme名字míngzi？
What is your name?
2
我wǒ叫jiào田中Tiánzhōng。
My name is Tanaka.
3
您nín贵姓guìxìng？
May I have your name? (polite)
4
我wǒ姓xìng田中Tiánzhōng。
My surname is Tanaka.
5
认识rènshi你nǐ很hěn高兴gāoxìng。
Nice to meet you.

04Dialog

SCENE　Greeting someone for the first time
田中TiánzhōngTanaka
您nín好hǎo！请问qǐngwèn您nín贵姓guìxìng？
王明Wáng MíngWang Ming
我wǒ姓xìng王Wáng，叫jiào王明Wáng Míng。
田中TiánzhōngTanaka
认识rènshi您nín很hěn高兴gāoxìng。我wǒ叫jiào田中Tiánzhōng。
王明Wáng MíngWang Ming
认识rènshi你nǐ很hěn高兴gāoxìng。

05Grammar

Grammar Point

How to ask someone's name / the question word "什么"

There are two ways to ask for a name, depending on the person and the level of politeness.

① Asking and giving a name

Casually, 你叫什么名字？ (What's your name?). Politely, 您贵姓？ (May I have your name?). Answer with "我wǒ叫jiào…" (full name) or "我wǒ姓xìng…" (surname only).

  • 您nín贵姓guìxìng？ — 我wǒ姓xìng王Wáng。May I have your name? — My surname is Wang.
  • 你nǐ叫jiào什么shénme名字míngzi？ — 我wǒ叫jiào王明Wáng Míng。What's your name? — My name is Wang Ming.
Note: To "您贵姓？" answer with the surname only (not ×我贵姓…). "贵" is a word of respect for the other person, so never use it about yourself.

② The question word "什么 (what)"

Put "什么" right where the information you want goes. The word order is the same as the answer sentence — don't rearrange it.

  • 这zhè是shì什么shénme？What is this?
Service tip: With guests, 您nín贵姓guìxìng？ is polite. It comes in handy when confirming reservations.

06Practice

  1. Answer "您nín贵姓guìxìng？" with "我wǒ姓xìng〇〇."
  2. Answer "你nǐ叫jiào什么shénme名字míngzi？" with your own name.
  3. Introduce yourselves in pairs. 您好 → 您贵姓？ → 认识您很高兴

07Translation

Dialog — Reference Translation

TanakaHello. Excuse me, may I have your name?
Wang MingMy surname is Wang. My name is Wang Ming.
TanakaNice to meet you. My name is Tanaka.
Wang MingNice to meet you.