姓
xìng
In Chinese, the phrase for last name is 姓 (xìng).
姓 refers to the family name that a person shares with other members of their family. While English speakers say 'last name', in Chinese, the concept is simply 'surname' (姓), as the family name always comes first in Chinese names.
Which one should you use?
For more formal contexts, such as official documents or when discussing lineage, you can use the two-syllable form 姓氏.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 姓 can function as both a noun meaning 'surname' and a verb meaning 'to be surnamed'.
How do you pronounce it?
xìng
When do people say it?
When asking someone's last name politely, especially an elder or a client, use the phrase 您贵姓？ (What is your honorable surname?) instead of asking directly for their 姓.
Did you know?
- The character for 姓 is composed of the radical for 'woman' 女 and the character for 'to give birth' 生.
- While most Chinese names have a single-character 姓, there are rare 'compound surnames' consisting of two characters, such as 欧阳 (Ōuyáng).
- Historically, the Emperor could grant a new 姓 to a subject as a reward for exceptional service or loyalty.
Examples in context
- 你的姓怎麼讀？How do you pronounce your last name?The first sentence is useful for asking how to pronounce the 姓.Tatoeba #5675496 by xjjAstrus, translation #70511 by CK
- 我不知道他的姓。I don't know his last name.The second sentence is useful for stating that you do not know someone's 姓.Tatoeba #4815106 by McMeao, translation #4813082 by Hybrid
- 你的姓氏怎么写？How do you write your last name?The third sentence is useful for asking how to write a 姓.Tatoeba #5794104 by verdastelo9604, translation #914377 by CK
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people are registering for a class together.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你姓什么？Nǐ xìng shénme?What is your last name?
- 佳怡 Jiayi我姓王。Wǒ xìng Wáng.My last name is Wang.
- 志强 Zhiqiang王是一个很常见的姓。Wáng shì yígè hěn chángjiàn de xìng.Wang is a very common last name.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，很多人都姓王。Shì de, hěnduō rén dōu xìng Wáng.Yes, many people have the last name Wang.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 姓, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
