你好，你叫什么名字？
The English phrase "hi, what's your name?" is translated into Chinese as 你好，你叫什么名字？
A casual variation for "Hey, what's your name?" is 嘿, 你叫什么名字？ and the single word 嘿 can mean "hey" or "hi".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 你叫什么名字？ literally translates to "You are called what name?"
Which one should you use?
You can use 您好，您叫什么名字？ to be more polite. Using 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ) makes the greeting more formal and respectful, suitable for elders or superiors.
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the verb 叫 is used to express being named or called.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying 你是名字 (nǐ shì míngzi), which incorrectly translates to "You are name". Instead, use 你叫什么名字？
Did you know?
- While 'hi' is translated as 你好 (nǐ hǎo), which means 'you good', a more common way for people to actually greet each other in casual settings is to ask 'Have you eaten?' (吃了吗？, chī le ma?).
- The character 叫 (jiào) in this phrase is the same character used for 'barking' or 'howling' in animal contexts.
- While 名字 (míngzi) means 'name', in ancient China, a person's 'true name' was often kept secret and used only by elders or superiors. Using a person's given name too early could have been seen as an act of intimacy or an insult.
Examples in context
- 你好，你叫什么名字？我是新来的。Nǐ hǎo, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? Wǒ shì xīn lái de.Hi, what's your name? I'm new here.
- 你好，你叫什么名字？很高兴认识你。Nǐ hǎo, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi? Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.Hi, what's your name? Nice to meet you.
Example conversation
Junjie and Yuting meet for the first time at a social gathering.
- 俊杰 Junjie你好，你叫什么名字？Nǐ hǎo, nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?Hi, what's your name?
- 雨婷 Yuting我叫雨婷。Wǒ jiào Yǔtíng.My name is Yuting.
- 俊杰 Junjie我叫俊杰，很高兴认识你。Wǒ jiào Jùnjié, hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.I'm Junjie, nice to meet you.
- 雨婷 Yuting我也很高兴认识你。Wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.Nice to meet you too.
