Understanding Chinese Names

In a Chinese name written in the usual Chinese order, the family name comes before the given name. For 李明 Lǐ Míng, 李 Lǐ is the family name and 明 Míng is the given name. But international settings, personal preferences, and different naming traditions can change how a name is presented. Ask rather than relying on its position alone.

Learn how the person introduces themselves

Listen for “我姓李。Wǒ xìng Lǐ.” — “My family name is Li,” or “我叫李明。Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.” — “My name is Li Ming.” The verb 姓 xìng introduces a family name; 叫 jiào can introduce the name a person uses.

Try a short introduction of your own:

你好，我叫安娜。Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Ānnà. — Hello, my name is Anna.

请问，怎么称呼您？Qǐngwèn, zěnme chēnghu nín? — May I ask how I should address you?

This lets the other person choose the name or title they prefer. It is often more useful than asking you to guess the correct level of formality.

Use titles with attention to context

If your teacher introduces herself as 李老师 Lǐ lǎoshī, “Teacher Li,” follow that form. A surname plus 老师 is a familiar classroom address. Do not attach a title simply because you have guessed someone's age, occupation, or gender. Friends and colleagues may prefer a full name, given name, or another chosen name.

When exchanging written details, ask “您的名字怎么写？Nín de míngzi zěnme xiě?” — “How do you write your name?” Several characters can share a pronunciation. Copy the spelling the person gives you instead of choosing a character from sound alone.

Choose your own Chinese name thoughtfully

A Chinese name is optional. If you want one, discuss its pronunciation, meaning, and naturalness with a teacher, then practise introducing it. Do not assume a literal dictionary translation of your English name will work well as a personal name.

For today's task, practise meeting two people who prefer different forms of address. A group Chinese course provides a setting for introductions and follow-up questions. You can also rehearse a short self-introduction in SureMandarin Daily.