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

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 姓 + \[Surname\]

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我 <em>姓</em> 王。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>xìng</em>
    Wáng.</span><span class="trans">My family name is Wang.</span>
-   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="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> 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>
-   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。<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> 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 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>
-   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>
-   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>
Asking Someone's Surname
------------------------

You can also use 姓 (xìng) to ask people their surnames. You could do
this quite directly by saying:

<div class="liju">
-   你 姓 什么? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xìng
    shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is your last name?</span>

</div>
However, the formal way to ask has a set form:

<div class="liju">
-   您 贵 姓 ？<span class="pinyin">Nín guì
    xìng?</span><span class="trans">What is your honorable
    surname?</span>

</div>
Literally this means "What is your honorable surname?" Use this form to
be polite when asking people their surnames.

See also
--------

-   [Using the verb "jiao"](Using_the_verb_"jiao" "wikilink")
-   [Introducing people](Introducing_people "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    22-3)
    [→buy](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)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    1 (新实用汉语课本1)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_1_(新实用汉语课本1) "wikilink") (p.
    39)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    49)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")
<Category:Verbs>