What is your name in Chinese: 你叫什么名字？

The question uses 你 (you), 叫 (to be called), 什么 (what), 名字 (name) and a question particle or rising intonation. A natural answer is 我叫 + name, for example 我叫李明 (wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng), “My name is Li Ming.” The complete phrase is useful even though a simple self-introduction can be shorter in conversation.

你叫什么名字？ and 你贵姓？

你叫什么名字？ asks for a complete name and is normal in informal, student and everyday situations. 您贵姓？ (nín guìxìng?) is a polite formula asking for the surname. It uses 您 for respect and 贵 in the traditional polite expression. It can sound more formal than asking for a full name.

How to answer

我叫李明 (wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng) means “I am called Li Ming.” 我姓李 (wǒ xìng Lǐ) means “My surname is Li.” If someone asks 您贵姓？, the short answer 我姓李 is natural. For a full name, the surname normally comes first in Chinese order: 李明 is surname 李 plus given name 明.

Where the name comes from

Chinese names and English names do not map automatically. A person may transliterate an English name, choose a Chinese name with a similar sound, choose a meaning-based name or already have a legally registered Chinese form. If you are asking about someone’s preferred Chinese name, listen and use the form they provide rather than inventing one.

Pronunciation and formality

名字 is pronounced míngzi, with 子 often light. 叫 is jiào and 姓 is xìng. Use 你 for a familiar or neutral situation and 您 when the relationship calls for extra respect. Adding 请问 before the question, as in 请问你叫什么名字？, can make the request more polite.

Written form

你叫什么名字？ is written the same in simplified and traditional Chinese. 您贵姓？ is also the same. The question mark is used in modern written Chinese. Spoken Mandarin can use a question particle or intonation, so punctuation is a writing convention rather than a separate sound.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the family name comes last in Chinese order.
• Answering 您贵姓？ with a full given name but not stating the surname.
• Using 您 with close friends or children when 你 would sound more natural.
• Inventing a Chinese name for someone instead of asking which form they use.

Design and learning use

This is a conversational phrase rather than a short calligraphic motto. If it appears in learning material, keep the punctuation and the question form complete. For a personal card, 我叫 + the person’s name is usually clearer than extracting 名字 from the question.