Simplified Chinese - Lesson 48 of 156: Identity

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我叫___

Wǒ jiào ___.

My name is ___.

Meaning: My name is ___.

When to use: Use this to say your name when meeting someone for the first time or introducing yourself.

我叫安娜

Wǒ jiào Ānnà.

My name is Anna.

你好！我叫李明。

Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng.

Hi! My name is Li Ming.

我来自___

Wǒ láizì ___.

I am from ___.

Meaning: I am from ___.

When to use: Say this when someone asks where you are from — for countries, cities, or regions.

我来自中国

Wǒ láizì Zhōngguó.

I am from China.

我来自巴西，现在在北京学习。

Wǒ láizì Bāxī, xiànzài zài Běijīng xuéxí.

I come from Brazil and now study in Beijing.

你来自哪里

Nǐ láizì nǎlǐ?

Where are you from?

Meaning: Where are you from?

When to use: Ask this to find out a person’s hometown or country; casual and common in conversation.

Tip: Beginners sometimes say '你是哪里人？' — this is also OK, but might sound more regional.

新同学，老师问：'你来自哪里？'

Xīn tóngxué, lǎoshī wèn: 'Nǐ láizì nǎlǐ?'

For a new classmate, the teacher asks: 'Where are you from?'

你来自哪里？我来自上海。

Nǐ láizì nǎlǐ? Wǒ láizì Shànghǎi.

Where are you from? I'm from Shanghai.

我住在___

Wǒ zhù zài ___.

I live in ___.

Meaning: I live in ___.

When to use: Use this to tell someone the city, area, or place where you currently live.

我住在北京

Wǒ zhù zài Běijīng.

I live in Beijing.

我现在住在广州的大学宿舍。

Wǒ xiànzài zhù zài Guǎngzhōu de dàxué sùshè.

I now live in the university dorms in Guangzhou.

你住在哪里

Nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ?

Where do you live?

Meaning: Where do you live?

When to use: Ask someone about their place of residence; use politely because it can be personal.

你住在哪里？我们可以约在附近的咖啡店见面。

Nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ? Wǒmen kěyǐ yuē zài fùjìn de kāfēidiàn jiànmiàn.

Where do you live? We can meet at a nearby cafe.

你住在哪里？我住在海淀区。

Nǐ zhù zài nǎlǐ? Wǒ zhù zài Hǎidiàn qū.

Where do you live? I live in Haidian district.

我___岁

Wǒ ___ suì.

I am ___ years old.

Meaning: I am ___ years old.

When to use: Tell your age with a number plus 岁; it's the most natural way to say age.

Tip: Avoid literal translations like '我年龄是二十五' — Chinese usually uses '我二十五岁。'

我二十五岁

Wǒ èrshíwǔ suì.

I am twenty-five years old.

孩子们会说：'我五岁。'

Háizi men huì shuō: 'Wǒ wǔ suì.'

Children will say: 'I'm five years old.'

你多大

Nǐ duō dà?

How old are you?

Meaning: How old are you?

When to use: Ask someone's age casually; for older people use the polite 您多大年纪？

你多大？我二十岁。

Nǐ duō dà? Wǒ èrshí suì.

How old are you? I'm twenty.

妈妈问小朋友：'你多大？' 小朋友回答：'我四岁。'

Māmā wèn xiǎopéngyǒu: 'Nǐ duō dà?' Xiǎopéngyǒu huídá: 'Wǒ sì suì.'

A mom asks a child: 'How old are you?' The child answers: 'I'm four.'

我是___

Wǒ shì ___.

I am a ___.

Meaning: I am a ___.

When to use: Use this to say your job or role, for example 我是老师 or 我是学生。

我是老师，在大学教中文。

Wǒ shì lǎoshī, zài dàxué jiāo Zhōngwén.

I am a teacher; I teach Chinese at the university.

我不是医生，我是工程师。

Wǒ bù shì yīshēng, wǒ shì gōngchéngshī.

I'm not a doctor, I'm an engineer.

我会说___

Wǒ huì shuō ___.

I speak ___.

Meaning: I speak ___.

When to use: Say which languages you can speak (ability).

Tip: Some learners say '我说中文' — that’s understandable; '我会说中文' emphasizes ability and is common.

我会说中文和英语。

Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén hé Yīngyǔ.

I can speak Chinese and English.

我会说一点儿法语，还在学。

Wǒ huì shuō yìdiǎnr Fǎyǔ, hái zài xué.

I can speak a little French; I'm still learning.

你会说___吗？

Nǐ huì shuō ___ ma?

Do you speak ___?

Meaning: Do you speak ___?

When to use: Ask whether someone can speak a particular language; add 您 for politeness with elders.

你会说英语吗

Nǐ huì shuō Yīngyǔ ma?

Do you speak English?

你会说日语吗？我想练习。

Nǐ huì shuō Rìyǔ ma? Wǒ xiǎng liànxí.

Do you speak Japanese? I want to practice.

你可以叫我___。

Nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ ___.

You can call me ___.

Meaning: You can call me ___.

When to use: Use this to tell someone your preferred name or nickname.

你可以叫我小张。

Nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ Xiǎo Zhāng.

You can call me Little Zhang.

我的中文名难发音，你可以叫我Anna。

Wǒ de Zhōngwén míng nán fāyīn, nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ Anna.

My Chinese name is hard to pronounce; you can call me Anna.

我姓___

Wǒ xìng ___.

My last name is ___.

Meaning: My last name is ___.

When to use: Give your family name when people ask for your surname.

我姓王

Wǒ xìng Wáng.

My family name is Wang.

我姓张，你呢

Wǒ xìng Zhāng, nǐ ne?

My last name is Zhang, and you?

你姓什么

Nǐ xìng shénme?

What's your last name?

Meaning: What's your last name?

When to use: Ask a person’s family name in informal situations; the polite/formal alternative is 您贵姓？

你姓什么？我姓刘。

Nǐ xìng shénme? Wǒ xìng Liú.

What's your last name? Mine is Liu.

在前台登记时，工作人员问：'你姓什么？'

Zài qiántái dēngjì shí, gōngzuò rényuán wèn: 'Nǐ xìng shénme?'

At the front desk they ask: 'What's your last name?'

Simplified Chinese - Identity

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

How do you say 'My name is Maria.'?

Which sentence asks 'Where do you live?'

Choose the sentence that means 'I am a teacher.'

Which question asks 'What's your last name?'

During introductions Anna says: 'I am from Beijing.' She wants to tell people her hometown.

At a birthday party, Li Ming tells friends: 'Today I am twenty years old.'

At the language exchange, Anna asks David: 'Do you speak Chinese?' She wants to know if he can practice with her.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice