What Is Your Name in Cantonese? Beginner's Self-Introduction Guide

Meeting someone new in Hong Kong or Guangzhou? Knowing how to ask and say your name when learning Cantonese makes a huge difference in how people respond to you. The basic phrases are super practical and way easier than you'd think. You can learn the essentials in just a few minutes, and honestly, locals really appreciate it when you make the effort. This guide covers everything from simple greetings to full introductions, with romanization so you can actually pronounce the words correctly.

How to say "What is your name?" in Cantonese

Breaking this down word by word:

The literal translation is "You called what name?" which sounds weird in English, but that's just how Cantonese structures the question. When you're speaking to someone in a formal situation or someone older than you, you'd use the exact same phrase. Cantonese doesn't really change the formality through different pronouns like some languages do.

This means the same thing but uses 乜嘢 (mat1 je5) instead of 咩 (me1) for "what." Both are totally acceptable. The first version is more common in everyday conversation because it's shorter.

How to say "My name is..." in Cantonese

Just add your name after 叫 (giu3). For example, if your name is Sarah: 我叫Sarah。 (ngo5 giu3 Sarah.) The word 我 (ngo5) means "I" or "me," and 叫 (giu3) means "called" or "named." So you're literally saying "I called Sarah."

This translates to "My name is..." where:

Both versions work perfectly fine. The first one (我叫) is more casual and common in daily conversation.

Saying "Hello, my name is..." for complete introductions

For example: 你好，我叫Michael。 (nei5 ho2, ngo5 giu3 Michael.) This is "Hello, I'm called Michael." Pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it.

The 你呢？ (nei5 ne1?) at the end means "And you?" or "How about you?" It's a quick way to turn the question back without repeating the whole phrase.

Full introduction phrases: Nationality, age, and occupation

Once you've exchanged names, you might want to share more about yourself. Here are the key phrases for a complete introduction:

Examples:

Example:

Examples:

Putting it all together for a full introduction:

How to transliterate English names to Cantonese

When you introduce yourself with an English name in Cantonese-speaking regions, you have two options.

Transliterations match the sound of your English name using Chinese characters. For example:

The characters are chosen purely for their sound, though sometimes people pick characters with positive meanings. These transliterations are more common for celebrities, historical figures, or people who work extensively in Cantonese-speaking environments.

For everyday introductions, especially as a language learner or traveler, just using your regular English name is perfectly acceptable. People are used to hearing English names, and it's actually clearer than trying to use a transliteration that might not be standard.

If you do want a Cantonese name, it's better to get help from a native speaker who can choose appropriate characters. They'll consider factors like:

Some people who learn Cantonese long-term choose completely different Chinese names rather than transliterations. These follow traditional Chinese naming patterns with a surname and given name.

Common responses when someone asks your name

After you've introduced yourself, here are some phrases you might hear or want to use:

These phrases help you navigate those first few moments of meeting someone when you're still getting comfortable with the language.

Cultural notes about introductions in Cantonese-speaking regions

In Hong Kong and other Cantonese-speaking areas, introductions tend to be pretty casual in everyday situations. You don't need elaborate formalities unless you're in a business setting.

When meeting someone's parents or elderly relatives, you'd show more respect by using polite particles and speaking a bit more formally. But among peers, the simple 你好，我叫... works great.

Business card exchange is still a thing in professional contexts. If someone gives you their card, receive it with both hands and take a moment to look at it before putting it away. This shows respect.

Many younger people in Hong Kong are bilingual in Cantonese and English, so they might switch to English when they hear you're a Cantonese learning beginner. Don't take it personally. They're usually just trying to be helpful. If you want to practice your Cantonese, you can politely say you're learning and would like to practice.

The question "Where are you from?" (你係邊度人？ nei5 hai6 bin1 dou6 jan4?) often comes right after name introductions. It's a standard getting-to-know-you question, not considered too personal.

Practice examples and sample dialogues

Here's a realistic conversation between two people meeting for the first time:

Translation:

Another example in a more casual setting:

Translation:

These dialogues show how the phrases flow in actual conversation. The exchanges are pretty short and direct, which is typical for initial introductions.

Anyway, if you want to practice Cantonese with real content, Migaku's browser extension and app let you look up words instantly while watching Cantonese shows or reading articles. Makes learning from native material way more practical. There's a 10-day free trial if you want to check it out.

Watch videos and learn faster

If you're serious about learning Cantonese, finding the right materials for immersion learning makes a huge difference. With videos teaching you pronunciation and context details, you can quickly pick up the right phrases for the right situations in no time. Many Hong Kong dramas and movies include scenes about characters introducing themselves as well.

First intros matter most.🤝😀