1. Chinese names: A modern Chinese name has two parts: a family name, which usually consists of a character, and a first name, which could be one character or two characters. As a rule, Chinese in China always have their family names before the first name. But Chinese abroad might follow the Western rule, and have their first name first and their family name last. 2. Telling and asking a person’s name: A. Family names: Use 姓 for the family name: 贵姓？ Guì xìng? What is your family name? (Idiomatic and polite way of asking someone’s family name.) (我)姓王。 (Wŏ)xìng Wáng. (My) family name is Wang. 她姓什么？ Tā xìng shénme? What is her family name? 她姓谢。 Tā xìng Xiè. Her last name is Xie. B. First names and full names: Use 叫 for a first name or a full name: 你叫什么？ Nĭ jiào shénme? What is you first name/full name? 我叫德迎。 Wŏ jiào Déyíng. My first name is Deying. 我叫谢德迎。 Wŏ jiào Xiè Déyíng. My full name is Xie Deying. 3. The expression of 请问: 请问 is a idiomatic expression, which is often used immediately before a question to make it polite. For example: 请问，他是谁？ Qĭng wèn, tā shì shéi? May I ask, who is he? 请问，你是王老师吗？Qĭng wèn, nĭ shì Wáng lăoshi ma? May I ask, are you Teacher Wang?
