Using the verb "xing"

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, or to ask the surname of someone else.

Structure

Examples

我姓王。
Wǒ xìng Wáng.
My last name is Wang.
你老板姓宋吗？
Nǐ lǎobǎn xìng Sòng ma?
Is your boss‘s last name Song?
那个帅哥姓张。
Nà ge shuàigē xìng Zhāng.
That handsome guy's last name is Zhang.
我爸爸姓周，我妈妈姓林。我叫周林。
Wǒ bàba xìng Zhōu, wǒ māma 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.
他女朋友姓钱。
Tā nǚpéngyou xìng Qián.
His girlfriend's last name is Qian.
你好，我姓毛。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xìng Máo.
Hello. My last name is Mao.
我姓赵，我太太也姓赵。
Wǒ xìng Zhào, wǒ tàitai yě xìng Zhào.
My last name is Zhao. My wife's last name is also Zhao.
我的中文老师姓于。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī xìng Yú.
My Chinese teacher's last name is Yu.
你奶奶也姓陈吗？
Nǐ nǎinai yě xìng Chén ma?
Is your grandma's last name also Chen?
他们都姓李。
Tāmen dōu xìng Lǐ.
All of their 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?

您贵姓？
Nín guì xìng?
What is your honorable surname?

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

Using the verb xìng "姓"

Contents

Giving One's Surname

Structure

Examples

Asking Someone's Surname

See also

Sources and further reading