How to say my name is in Chinese
"My name is" in Chinese is 我叫李明 (wǒ jiào lǐ míng). It is built from "I am called Li Ming". 我叫 plus your full name is the everyday way to introduce yourself; 我姓 gives only your surname and is how you answer the polite question 您贵姓.
Ways to say my name is
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我叫李明 | wǒ jiào lǐ míng | my name is | The default answer. |
| 叫我小王就行 | jiào wǒ xiǎo wáng jiù xíng | just call me Xiao Wang | Telling peers or colleagues what to call you, casual and friendly |
| 我是李明 | wǒ shì lǐ míng | I'm Li Ming | On the phone or when someone is expecting you |
| 我叫王丽 | wǒ jiào wáng lì | my name is Wang Li | The standard self-introduction with your full name |
| 我姓李，叫李明 | wǒ xìng lǐ, jiào lǐ míng | my surname is Li, my name is Li Ming | A careful introduction, making the surname clear |
| 我姓王 | wǒ xìng wáng | my surname is Wang | Answering 您贵姓, or in polite and business settings |
| 我的名字是李明 | wǒ de míng zi shì lǐ míng | my name is Li Ming | Correct but stiff; more common on forms than in speech |
What people say back
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 很高兴认识你 | hěn gāo xìng rèn shi nǐ | nice to meet you |
| 我叫王丽 | wǒ jiào wáng lì | my name is Wang Li |
Example sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 你好，我叫李明，是你的新同学。 | nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào lǐ míng, shì nǐ de xīn tóng xué. | Hi, I'm Li Ming, your new classmate. |
| 我姓王，三横一竖的王。 | wǒ xìng wáng, sān héng yī shù de wáng. | My surname is Wang, the Wang with three horizontal strokes and one vertical. |
| 大家好，我叫王丽，叫我小丽就行。 | dà jiā hǎo, wǒ jiào wáng lì, jiào wǒ xiǎo lì jiù xíng. | Hi everyone, I'm Wang Li. Just call me Xiao Li. |
| 我姓李，叫李明，木子李。 | wǒ xìng lǐ, jiào lǐ míng, mù zǐ lǐ. | My surname is Li, I'm Li Ming. That's the Li made of 木 and 子. |
The characters in 我叫李明
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning here |
|---|---|---|
| 我 | wǒ | I, me |
| 叫 | jiào | to be called |
| 李 | lǐ | Li, a surname |
| 明 | míng | bright (here part of a given name) |
Common mistakes
- 姓 takes only the surname and 叫 takes the full or given name: 我姓李 and 我叫李明 are right, 我姓李明 is wrong.
- Chinese names put the surname first: in 李明, 李 is the surname and 明 the given name.
- 我的名字是 is grammatical but sounds translated from English; 我叫 is what people say.
- 行 in 叫我小王就行 is xíng (fine, will do).
Related
- What is your name in Chinese: 你叫什么名字？
- Hello in Chinese: 你好
- Polite phrases in Chinese: 不客气
- How are you in Chinese: 你好吗
- All phrases and words
Frequently asked questions
How do you say my name is in Chinese?
我叫李明 (wǒ jiào lǐ míng), literally "I am called Li Ming". Other ways: 叫我小王就行 (jiào wǒ xiǎo wáng jiù xíng); 我是李明 (wǒ shì lǐ míng); 我叫王丽 (wǒ jiào wáng lì).
How do you say my name is in Chinese?
Say 我叫 (wǒ jiào) and then your name: 我叫李明 (wǒ jiào lǐ míng), "my name is Li Ming".
What is the difference between 叫 and 姓?
叫 (jiào) is followed by your full or given name. 姓 (xìng) is followed only by your surname, so 我姓李 means "my surname is Li".
How do I introduce myself in Chinese?
A simple version is 你好，我叫李明，很高兴认识你 (nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào lǐ míng, hěn gāo xìng rèn shi nǐ): "Hi, I'm Li Ming, nice to meet you."
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