What’s Your Name and My Name Is in Chinese

The first time I introduced myself in Mandarin at a language meetup, I made it exactly three seconds before my brain tripped over itself. I managed a clean 你好 (Nǐ hǎo), got hit with a friendly 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?), and answered with the very proper 我的名字是 Anna (Wǒ de míngzi shì Anna). Correct? Yes. Natural in that moment? Not really. It felt a bit like bringing a dictionary to a coffee chat.

A few minutes later, everybody around me was using lighter, quicker patterns like 我叫 Anna (Wǒ jiào Anna) and 你呢？ (Nǐ ne?). That is the trick with names in Chinese: the beginner version is easy, but the useful version is about knowing which phrase fits the situation. This guide gives you the casual, polite, formal, phone-call, surname, nickname, and Chinese-name versions, all with pinyin and real examples you can actually use.

Core Name Vocabulary You’ll Use Constantly

The Fastest Beginner Win

If you only learn one question and one answer today, make them these:

This pair works in most beginner situations. It is clear, common, and easy to remember. If you can add 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) before it and 很高兴认识你 (Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ) after it, you already have a tiny conversation that feels complete.

Useful Phrases And Real-Life Sentences

When Each Pattern Feels Natural

我叫…… (Wǒ jiào…): The Best Default

This is the phrase most beginners should reach for first. It literally means “I am called…,” but in natural English it works as “My name is…” or “I’m….” It is short, friendly, and common in everyday introductions.

你好，我叫 Leo。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Leo.
Hello, my name is Leo.

我的名字是…… (Wǒ de míngzi shì…): Correct, But A Bit Stiffer

This is not wrong at all. It is just more explicit and a little more textbook-like in casual conversation. Use it when you want to sound extra clear, or when you are still building confidence. Then gradually slide into 我叫…… (Wǒ jiào…).

我的名字是 Maria。
Wǒ de míngzi shì Maria.
My name is Maria.

我是…… (Wǒ shì…): Good For Introductions And Phone Calls

我是…… (Wǒ shì…) means “I am….” It is useful when you are identifying yourself, especially on the phone or in a more formal introduction. For just telling your name, 我叫…… (Wǒ jiào…) is still the sharper tool.

你好，我是 Emma。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Emma.
Hello, this is Emma.

你姓什么？ (Nǐ xìng shénme?): Ask For The Family Name

Chinese names normally put the family name first, then the given name. So if you ask 你姓什么？ (Nǐ xìng shénme?), you are specifically asking for the surname, not the full name.

A: 你姓什么？
Nǐ xìng shénme?
What’s your surname?

B: 我姓周。
Wǒ xìng Zhōu.
My surname is Zhou.

请问您怎么称呼？ (Qǐngwèn nín zěnme chēnghu?): Polite And Flexible

This is a great phrase in professional or respectful situations because it does not force a specific answer. The other person can give a surname, a full name, a title, or a preferred way to be addressed.

请问您怎么称呼？
Qǐngwèn nín zěnme chēnghu?
How should I address you?

您贵姓？ (Nín guìxìng?): Very Polite, Very Useful

This is one of the classic polite ways to ask someone’s surname. It sounds respectful. The reply drops the politeness word 贵 (guì), because you do not use “honorable” for yourself.

A: 您贵姓？
Nín guìxìng?
May I have your surname?

B: 我姓刘。
Wǒ xìng Liú.
My surname is Liu.

B: 免贵姓刘。
Miǎn guì xìng Liú.
My surname is Liu.

喂，请问哪位？ (Wéi, qǐngwèn nǎ wèi?): Phone Chinese

Names on the phone are slightly different. Instead of asking “What’s your name?” directly, Chinese often uses 哪位 (nǎ wèi), which is closer to “Who is this, please?”

喂，请问哪位？
Wéi, qǐngwèn nǎ wèi?
Hello, who is this?

你好，我是 David。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì David.
Hello, this is David.

Core Pattern Table

Polite And Formal Pattern Table

Name Extras You’ll Actually Use

Do You Need A Chinese Name?

No. Not on day one, not on day ten, and not just because a worksheet looks demanding. You can absolutely say 我叫 Emma (Wǒ jiào Emma) or 我是 David (Wǒ shì David). Plenty of learners use their real name in Mandarin conversations.

If you do have a Chinese name, then use it clearly:

我的中文名字叫李安。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén míngzi jiào Lǐ Ān.
My Chinese name is Li An.

If you do not have one yet, this works just fine:

我没有中文名字，你可以直接叫我 Emma。
Wǒ méiyǒu Zhōngwén míngzi, nǐ kěyǐ zhíjiē jiào wǒ Emma.
I don’t have a Chinese name. You can just call me Emma.

Practice Time

• Say “What’s your name?” to a classmate.
• Say “May I have your surname?” in a polite work situation.
• Say “My surname is Lin, and my name is Anna.”
• Say “You can call me Leo.”
• Say “Hello, this is Emma.” on the phone.

Common Mistakes And Fast Fixes

• Using 你的名字是什么？ (Nǐ de míngzi shì shénme?) every single time. It is correct, but it sounds more textbook-like. In normal conversation, 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) or 你叫什么？ (Nǐ jiào shénme?) usually feels lighter.
• Replying to 您贵姓？ (Nín guìxìng?) with 我贵姓王。 Do not use 贵 (guì) for yourself. Say 我姓王。 (Wǒ xìng Wáng.) or 免贵姓王。 (Miǎn guì xìng Wáng.)
• Thinking 我是…… (Wǒ shì…) and 我叫…… (Wǒ jiào…) are identical. They overlap, but 我叫…… (Wǒ jiào…) is more specifically about your name.
• Forgetting that Chinese names usually start with the surname. 我姓陈，叫美玲。 (Wǒ xìng Chén, jiào Měilíng.) gives surname first, then given name.
• Assuming you must invent a Chinese name immediately. You really do not. 我叫 Emma。 (Wǒ jiào Emma.) is perfectly usable.
• Using 您 (nín) with every human on earth. 您 (nín) is polite and respectful, but with friends, classmates, or kids, plain 你 (nǐ) is usually more natural.

Quick Reference Summary

• 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) = What’s your name?
• 我叫 Alex。 (Wǒ jiào Alex.) = My name is Alex.
• 我是 Alex。 (Wǒ shì Alex.) = I’m Alex.
• 你姓什么？ (Nǐ xìng shénme?) = What’s your surname?
• 我姓黄。 (Wǒ xìng Huáng.) = My surname is Huang.
• 请问您怎么称呼？ (Qǐngwèn nín zěnme chēnghu?) = How should I address you?
• 您贵姓？ (Nín guìxìng?) = May I have your surname?
• 你可以叫我小陈。 (Nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ Xiǎo Chén.) = You can call me Xiao Chen.
• 喂，请问哪位？ (Wéi, qǐngwèn nǎ wèi?) = Hello, who is this?
• 很高兴认识你。 (Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.) = Nice to meet you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 我的名字是…… (Wǒ de míngzi shì…) wrong?

No. It is correct. It just sounds a bit more formal or textbook-like in everyday speech. The more natural beginner answer is often 我叫…… (Wǒ jiào…).

Do I Need To Translate My Name Into Chinese?

Not at all. You can use your real name directly: 我叫 Sophie。 (Wǒ jiào Sophie.) If you later get a Chinese name, then you can add 我的中文名字叫…… (Wǒ de Zhōngwén míngzi jiào…).

What Should I Say In A Formal Situation?

Use polite building blocks like 请问 (qǐngwèn), 您 (nín), 怎么称呼 (zěnme chēnghu), and 贵姓 (guìxìng). A good line is 请问您怎么称呼？ (Qǐngwèn nín zěnme chēnghu?)

How Do I Ask How To Write Someone’s Name?

Say 你的名字怎么写？ (Nǐ de míngzi zěnme xiě?) for everyday conversation. On forms, you may also see 姓名 (xìngmíng), which means full name.

For extra review, the beginner lessons at DigMandarin, ChineseClass101, and Preply are useful companions. Then say the lines out loud a few times, because names are meant to be spoken, not admired from across the room.