ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A1/21.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

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"]]
*[[Introducing people]]

== Sources and further reading ==

* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 22-3) [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 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 39) [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 →buy]
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 49) [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 →buy]

[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Verbs]]
{{Used for|Introducing people}}
{{Basic Grammar|姓|A1|姓 + Surname|你 <em>姓</em> 什么 ？|grammar point|ASGPS9NY}}
{{Similar|Using the verb jiao}}
{{Similar|Introducing people}}
{{Rel char|姓}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Subprop|Verbs}}
{{Translation|call}}