What Is Your Name in Chinese: How to Ask Chinese People's Names in Different Occasions
Last updated: December 2, 2025
As a Chinese learner, asking for a name is the first step into a world where names are not just labels, but also vessels of poetry and culture. Learning to navigate this question——is just the basic, as there are other subtle ways of asking names in Chinese, same as in English. Let's hone your name-asking skill in this article, and explore the diversity of expressions!
Key phrases to ask name in Chinese and their subtle differences
As name asking usually happens at the beginning of a dialogue with people you want to converse with, it is important to ask in a way that matches the formality of the setting and reflects your understanding of Chinese culture. Asking "what’s your name" in Chinese properly can leave a great first impression!
Check these common expressions with their connotations and usages in the table.
Phrases | English Translations | Usages | Sentence Examples | English Translations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
你是？ | You are...? | This is the curtest way to ask for names, usually used in informal settings. | 我是汤姆的朋友，你是？ | I'm a friend of Tom's. You are...? |
你叫什么？ | Your name is? | This is a casual way to ask for names in informal settings. | 嗨，我是汤姆的朋友。你叫什么？ | Hi, I'm a friend of Tom's. What's your name? |
你叫什么名字？ | What's your name? | It appears in most everyday, peer-to-peer situations. It's direct yet neutral. | 你好，我叫小文。你叫什么名字？ | Hello, I'm Xiaowen. What's your name? |
请问，您贵姓？ | May I ask for your surname? | This is mostly used in business occasions or formal first meetings. Sometimes, staff may ask for the surname only as well, for example, in Starbucks. | 先生，您好。请问，您贵姓？ | Hello, sir. May I have your surname, please? |
What people would say in reply politely in both informal and formal settings
When someone asks you , the most common and perfectly clear reply follows a simple, reliable formula: state …… (I'm...) followed by your full name, remembering that in Chinese, the family name comes first. This is your direct, go-to response in most casual to neutral situations. For example:
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My name is Li Xiaolong. -
Hello, my name is Zhang Ming.
Responding correctly to the ultra-polite is where cultural nuance shows. You can reply simply with ……(My last name is...), or adopt a more humble formula ……, which carries the same meaning. For example:
-
(Remember to use this expression when the Starbuck staff asks for your surname.)
My surname is Chen. -
(This expression is generally used in business or formal meeting occasions.)
My humble surname is Wang.
How do native speakers handle prefixes, titles, and Western names
In Chinese social circles, moving beyond a full name is a sign of growing familiarity and respect, often marked by specific prefixes and titles. People in some careers are deemed as social elite and thus being called with their titles, such as (Teacher), (Lawyer), (Professor), (Doctor of medicine), and (Doctor of academic degree). In these cases, people only need to know their surname to call them, such as (Teacher Zhang).
The formula for using prefixes or titles is prefixes + surname/ surname + title.
There are a few prefixes and titles included in this table for daily use.
Prefixes or Titles | Meanings | Sentence Examples | English Translations |
|---|---|---|---|
小 | The affectionate 小, meaning "Little," is commonly prefixed to a surname when addressing younger colleagues or friends (e.g., 小王 for Wang) | 麻烦小王给我打杯咖啡。 | Wang, would you please give me a cup of coffee? |
老 | 老, meaning "Old," is a sign of respect and camaraderie used for older peers (e.g., 老李 for Li). | 多亏了老李的建议。 | It's all thanks to Li's advice. |
先生/女士 | Mr./Ms. | 下面有请王女士发言。 | Let's give the stage to Ms. Wang. |
老师 | Teacher. This title is very common when Chinese people refer to a teacher with respect. Similar examples are 律师 (Lawyer), 医生 (Doctor), 教授 (Professor), titles for people who are in socially-deemed elite careers. | 李老师，我儿子最近表现如何？ | Ms. Li, how's my son's study been recently? |
律师 | Lawyer | 王律师，我这个案子还有希望吗？ | Mr. Wang, is it possible for me to win this case? |
For those without a Chinese name, the approach is straightforward. Simply state your name as is, followed by the helpful phrase …… (You can call me...) This offers a clear, friendly instruction on how to address you and smoothly bridges the cultural gap. For example:
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My name is David, you can call me Dave. -
I'm Sarah Miller, you can call me Sarah.
Master the way of asking names with classic Chinese drama
Equip yourself with the way of asking names in Chinese via classic Chinese drama! Do you know how Wukong introduces himself for the first time to the monk, Tang Sanzang? Migaku app can help you understand this interesting dialogue by generating subtitles and creating flashcards for sentences!
- Switch on YouTube and search for Chinese videos with the app
- Click "Watch with Migaku", and the magic wand at the lower left corner to generate Chinese subtitles
- Click on the new words or sentences in each subtitle and generate flashcards!
FAQs
It can be difficult to remember the Chinese characters of people's names...
People understand the embarrassment of being unable to grasp the precise pronunciations or Chinese characters of the names. As Chinese learners, it is even more difficult to memorize names at the beginning. However, there are some commonly used characters for names, and that's why consuming media can help you get used to what Chinese people's names look like and sound like. With proper input and repetition, you can remember your friends' names just like how you manage to remember the characters' names in dramas!
If you consume media in Chinese, and you understand at least some of the messages and sentences within that media, you will make progress. Period.
Don't hesitate to ask people how to write their names!