How do you say my name is in Chinese?

我叫 + name is the standard everyday formula. 我的名字叫 + name is a more explicit version.

What does 我姓 mean?

我姓 means “my surname is …”. It gives only the family name, not the given name.

Does the surname come first in Chinese?

Yes. In Chinese order, the surname normally comes before the given name, as in 李明, where 李 is the surname and 明 is the given name.

Can I use 我是 to introduce my name?

我是 means “I am” and can introduce identity, but 我叫 + name is clearer when the purpose is specifically to state your name.

How do I write my name in Chinese?

First decide whether you want a phonetic transliteration or a chosen Chinese name. A transliteration represents the sound; a Chinese name uses meaningful characters and must be checked as a complete surname-and-given-name combination.

Can I translate my name letter by letter into Chinese characters?

No. English letters and Chinese characters do not map one to one, and the same sound can use different characters with different meanings. Do not convert each letter separately.

What is the most natural way to say my name is in Chinese?

我叫 + your name is the everyday spoken default. 我的名字叫 + name is also natural and slightly fuller. 我的名字是 is understandable but sounds closer to a written translation.

What does 免贵姓 mean?

免贵姓 is the traditional modest reply to 您贵姓？, as in 免贵姓王 (“no need for the honor; my surname is Wang”). 免贵 is a fixed polite formula; many younger speakers simply answer 我姓王.

How do I ask someone’s name politely in Chinese?

Use 您怎么称呼？ or 请问您贵姓？ with an elder, customer or formal contact. 你叫什么名字？ is fine between peers, classmates and children but can sound too direct in formal settings.

What is the difference between 小名, 昵称 and 外号?

小名 is a childhood or family pet name, usually used by relatives and close friends. 昵称 is a friendly nickname or screen name, often chosen by the person. 外号 is a nickname given by others and can be affectionate or mocking.

What do 单名 and 双名 mean?

单名 is a one-character given name, as in 王明. 双名 is a two-character given name, as in 王小明. The surname is separate: in 王小明, 王 is the surname and 小明 is the given name.

What does 姓名 mean on a Chinese form?

姓名 means full name: surname plus given name in Chinese order. Fill 姓 into the Family name or Surname field and 名 into the Given name field.

Which name should I use for someone I have just met?

Use the name the person introduces. A full name is safe; 小名 is for family and close friends, and 外号 should not be used unless the person clearly accepts it. If you are unsure, ask 我怎么称呼您？.

My Name Is in Chinese: 我叫, 我姓 & 我是

Quick answer: 我叫 + your name

我叫 (wǒ jiào) literally means “I am called.” Add the name after it: 我叫李明 (Wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng). This is the most common everyday way to say “my name is …”. If you only need to give your family name, say 我姓李 (Wǒ xìng Lǐ), meaning “my surname is Li.”

Chinese name order normally puts the surname before the given name. 李明 is surname 李 plus given name 明. That order should remain intact in Chinese, even when an English-language setting writes the same person’s name in a different order.

Chinese ways to introduce your name by information and level of formality
Chinese	Pinyin	What it gives	Best context
我叫 + name	wǒ jiào + name	Your full preferred name	Standard everyday introduction; safe for most learners.
我姓 + surname	wǒ xìng + surname	Your surname or family name	Useful when forms or a formal conversation ask for the surname.
我的名字叫 + name	wǒ de míngzi jiào + name	“My name is …” in an explicit sentence	Clear for beginners, explanations and written practice.
我是 + name	wǒ shì + name	“I am …”	Common for identity statements, but less precise as a name formula when the following word is not a name.
大家都叫我 + name	dàjiā dōu jiào wǒ + name	“Everyone calls me …”	Good for a nickname or preferred short name after the formal introduction.
请问您贵姓？	qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?	Asks for another person’s surname politely	Formal or traditional courtesy; the answer is usually 我姓 + surname.

Say the name in Chinese order

If your name is Li Ming in Chinese, introduce it as 我叫李明. If you come from an English-speaking context and normally write “Ming Li,” do not switch the two parts without checking which one is the surname. Family-name and given-name fields in official records have specific meanings, so the Chinese phrase should not be built from the English display order by habit.

Formal introductions

我叫 + name is neutral and works in many formal situations. 我的名字叫 + name is more explicit and can sound slightly explanatory, which is useful when teaching or correcting a spelling. In a very formal introduction, a full title, organisation or relationship may be added around the name, but the basic name formula remains clear.

Preferred name, legal name and nickname

A person may have a legal Chinese name, a preferred Chinese name, an English name and a nickname. Ask which form to use rather than choosing for them. After 我叫 + legal or preferred name, you can add 大家都叫我 + nickname to explain how people address you. Do not assume that every English name has one standard Chinese translation.

Pronunciation and tones

叫 is jiào, with a fourth tone. 姓 is xìng, also fourth tone. 名字 is míngzi, with the second syllable often light. Tone marks matter for learning, but names also have established readings and regional pronunciations. When introducing a real person, use the pronunciation that person provides.

Written and design use

These are sentence patterns, not short mottoes. If you use 我叫 + name on a card, name badge or artwork, keep the name accurate and consistent with the person’s preferred written form. A standalone 我叫 without a name is incomplete. Check simplified and traditional forms where they differ and avoid mixing scripts.

How to ask for the other person’s name

After giving your own name, you can ask 你叫什么名字？ in an everyday situation or 请问您贵姓？ when you mainly need the surname respectfully. If the other person replies with 我姓王, you can say 王先生 or 王女士 only when you know which title and pronunciation are appropriate. A surname is not automatically a complete preferred name.

English display order versus Chinese order

An English-language form may label the family name and given name in a different order, and some people choose an English display name for convenience. When you introduce yourself in Chinese, keep the Chinese phrase aligned with the correct surname and given-name elements. For example, if 李明 is the Chinese name, 我叫李明 is clear. If you also use an English name, add it separately rather than replacing the surname position without explanation.

Common mistakes

Putting the given name before the surname in Chinese order.
Using 我姓 with a full name instead of only the surname.
Assuming 我是 is always the best translation of “my name is.”
Inventing a Chinese name without asking the person’s preferred form.
Mixing a legal name, nickname and English display order in one introduction.

Name writing

My name written in Chinese: transliteration and Chinese characters

People often search for “my name in Chinese letters” when they want their English name written in Chinese characters. There is no universal letter-by-letter conversion. A name can be handled in two different ways: phonetic transliteration, which represents the sound, or a Chinese name, which is chosen from meaningful characters and checked as a complete name.

Two ways to write an English name in Chinese
Approach	What it does	What to check
Phonetic transliteration	Uses characters to approximate the sound of the name, such as common renderings for Michael or Lisa.	There can be several accepted renderings. Check the form used in your passport, documents or community rather than inventing one from a random list.
Chinese name	Chooses characters for meaning, sound and style, often with the surname first.	The complete surname-and-given-name combination, tones, homophones and real usage all need a fluent-reader check.
Pinyin	Uses the Latin alphabet to show Mandarin pronunciation.	Pinyin is a pronunciation system, not a replacement for Chinese characters in a name or design.

“Chinese letters” is an informal way to describe Chinese characters, but English letters and Chinese characters do not map one to one. A single English sound may require a combination of characters, and the same sound can be represented by different characters with different meanings. Do not translate each letter separately.

Start with the English name to Chinese name guide if you want a chosen name. Read surname transliteration when the family name must stay consistent across documents. For a permanent design or legal use, keep the exact form and ask a fluent reader to confirm it.

Asking for a name

你叫什么名字, 您怎么称呼 and 免贵姓

Chinese name questions change with age and status. 你叫什么名字？ is normal between peers or with a child, but it can sound too direct to an elder, a customer or a new business contact. The polite alternatives ask how to address the person rather than demanding the name outright.

How to ask someone’s name in Chinese by register
Chinese	Pinyin	English direction	Register and caution
你叫什么名字？	nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?	What’s your name?	Neutral and common with peers, classmates and children.
你叫什么？	nǐ jiào shénme?	What are you called?	Short and casual; can sound abrupt to a stranger or senior.
请问您贵姓？	qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?	May I ask your honorable surname?	Very polite and traditional; common in formal introductions.
您贵姓？	nín guìxìng?	Your surname?	The short polite form; the expected modest reply is 免贵姓 + surname.
您怎么称呼？	nín zěnme chēnghu?	How should I address you?	Polite and flexible; good in business and service settings.
请问怎么称呼您？	qǐngwèn zěnme chēnghu nín?	Could I ask how to address you?	Very polite; 您 comes after the verb in this pattern.
你姓什么？	nǐ xìng shénme?	What’s your surname?	Direct; fine between peers, less suitable for formal occasions.
你的中文名字是什么？	nǐ de Zhōngwén míngzi shì shénme?	What’s your Chinese name?	Asks specifically about a Chinese name, not a legal name.
我们怎么称呼你？	wǒmen zěnme chēnghu nǐ?	How should we call you?	Group, class or team setting.

If someone asks 您贵姓？, the traditional modest reply is 免贵姓王 (“no need for the honor; my surname is Wang”). 免贵 is a set formula; many younger speakers simply answer 我姓王. Do not answer 您贵姓 with 我贵姓 — 贵 is an honorific for the other person’s surname, not a claim about your own.

Answer patterns

我叫…, 叫我…就行 and 我的名字是…

Several sentences mean “my name is,” but they belong to different registers. 我叫 is the natural spoken default, 我的名字叫 adds a little formality, and 我的名字是 sounds closer to a written translation.

Ways to say my name is in Chinese
Chinese	Pinyin	English direction	When it fits
我叫王明	wǒ jiào Wáng Míng	I’m Wang Ming	The everyday default in speech.
我的名字叫王明	wǒ de míngzi jiào Wáng Míng	My name is Wang Ming	Fuller and slightly more formal; still natural.
我的名字是王明	wǒ de míngzi shì Wáng Míng	My name is Wang Ming	Understandable but translation-like; more common in writing.
我姓王，叫王明	wǒ xìng Wáng, jiào Wáng Míng	My surname is Wang; my name is Wang Ming	Explicit surname-plus-name answer for forms and introductions.
我姓王，叫我小明就行	wǒ xìng Wáng, jiào wǒ Xiǎo Míng jiù xíng	My surname is Wang; just call me Xiao Ming	Polite and friendly; 就行 softens the suggestion.
叫我小明就行	jiào wǒ Xiǎo Míng jiù xíng	Just call me Xiao Ming	Tells people which name you prefer.
你可以叫我…	nǐ kěyǐ jiào wǒ …	You can call me …	Introduces a preferred name, nickname or transliteration.
大家都叫我…	dàjiā dōu jiào wǒ …	Everyone calls me …	Explains the name you actually use.
我的中文名叫…	wǒ de Zhōngwén míng jiào …	My Chinese name is …	Use when you also have a name in another language.
我的英文名是…	wǒ de Yīngwén míng shì …	My English name is …	Introduces an English name in a Chinese conversation.

In a first meeting, 我叫 + name is enough. Add 很高兴认识你 (“nice to meet you”) or 请多关照 (“please look after me / I look forward to working with you”) when the relationship calls for it, but do not stack every formula into one sentence.

Types of names

小名, 昵称 and 外号: which name may you use?

Chinese has separate words for family names, online handles, pen names and names given by other people. They are not interchangeable, and using the wrong one can be too familiar or even rude.

Chinese words for different kinds of names
Chinese	Pinyin	English direction	Usage and caution
全名	quánmíng	Full name	Surname plus given name in one unit.
姓名	xìngmíng	Full name (form field)	The label on forms and official lists.
中文名	Zhōngwén míng	Chinese name	A name in Chinese, whether chosen or transliterated.
英文名	Yīngwén míng	English name	The name used in English-speaking contexts.
小名	xiǎomíng	Childhood / family pet name	Usually used by family and close friends; do not assume you may use it.
昵称	nìchēng	Friendly nickname / screen name	Often chosen by the person; common online.
外号	wàihào	Nickname given by others	Can be affectionate or mocking; never invent one for an elder, customer or colleague.
笔名	bǐmíng	Pen name	Used by writers and bloggers.
艺名	yìmíng	Stage name	Performers, actors and singers.
网名	wǎngmíng	Screen name / online handle	Not usually used in face-to-face formal settings.
别名	biémíng	Alias / alternative name	Neutral and administrative; can also appear on documents.

The safest rule is to use the name the person introduces. If you are unsure between a full name, a given name and a nickname, ask 我怎么称呼您？ (“how should I address you?”). Do not shorten someone’s name on your own, and do not use 小名 with a person you have just met.

Name order and forms

姓, 名 and 姓名: what goes in which field?

Chinese order puts the surname first: 王小明 is 王 (surname) + 小明 (given name). English order often reverses that, which causes mistakes on tickets, visas and official forms. The field label, not the example, tells you what to enter.

Chinese name terms and the matching form fields
Chinese	Pinyin	English field	Note
姓	xìng	Surname / family name	A single character for most Chinese surnames: 王, 李, 张.
名	míng	Given name	One or two characters in modern Chinese names.
姓名	xìngmíng	Full name	Surname plus given name, in that order on Chinese forms.
单名	dānmíng	One-character given name	Example: 王明 — 小明 is not present, so the given name is 明.
双名	shuāngmíng	Two-character given name	Example: 王小明 — the given name is 小明.
字	zì	Courtesy name (historical)	An old literati practice; not used for modern legal names.
号	hào	Literary style name (historical)	Chosen by scholars and artists in the past; not a modern nickname.
名字	míngzi	Name	In everyday speech it often covers the full name, not only the given name.

When a form says Family name or Surname, enter 姓. When it says Given name or First name, enter 名. Do not assume that the first word of a Chinese name is the given name: 王小明 starts with the family name 王. If you are filling in a passport, visa or ticket, copy the exact fields from the document instead of reordering the characters.

Pinyin and characters

名字, 姓名 and 小名: pinyin, tones and traditional forms

The name vocabulary looks simple in characters but carries several tone traps: 姓 xìng is fourth tone, not first; 名 míng is second tone; and 名字 ends in a neutral 子. The table gives each word with its traditional form.

Name vocabulary: pinyin and traditional forms
Simplified	Traditional	Pinyin	Tone note
我叫	我叫	wǒ jiào	叫 is fourth tone; the pattern is 我叫 + name.
我姓	我姓	wǒ xìng	姓 is fourth tone; do not read it as xīng.
名字	名字	míngzi	名 is second tone; 子 is neutral in this word.
姓名	姓名	xìngmíng	Fourth tone + second tone; the full-name field label.
小名	小名	xiǎomíng	Third tone + second tone; family pet name.
昵称	暱稱 / 昵稱	nìchēng	Fourth tone + first tone; traditional Chinese often writes 暱稱.
外号	外號	wàihào	Fourth tone + fourth tone; 号 becomes 號.
笔名	筆名	bǐmíng	Third tone + second tone; 笔 becomes 筆.
网名	網名	wǎngmíng	Third tone + second tone; 网 becomes 網.
艺名	藝名	yìmíng	Fourth tone + second tone; 艺 becomes 藝.
别名	別名	biémíng	Second tone + second tone; 别 becomes 別.
中文名	中文名	Zhōngwén míng	First tone + second tone; capitalise Zhōng in pinyin.

Keep one writing system in a document or design: 名字 or 名字, 外号 or 外號, not a mixture. Pinyin tone marks are part of the spelling, so write xìngmíng rather than xing ming. For a name printed on a certificate, ticket or artwork, check the exact characters against the controlling document before it is finalised.