我叫……
wǒ jiào …
In Chinese, 'my name is' can be expressed as 我叫…… (wǒ jiào …) or 我的名字是……
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 我叫…… | wǒ jiào … |
| 我的名字是…… | wǒ de míngzi shì … |
These phrases are used to identify yourself to others. When using 我叫……, you follow the phrase directly with your name without needing a separate word for 'is'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 我叫…… literally means 'I am called'. The phrase 我的名字是…… literally means 'my name is'.
Which one should you use?
我叫…… is the most common and natural way to introduce oneself in spoken Chinese. In contrast, 我的名字是…… sounds more formal and is often used in written contexts or very structured introductions.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 我叫……, the verb 叫 (jiào) is used to indicate what one is called or named.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ jiào …
Did you know?
- While 我叫…… is standard, in very formal business settings you might use the phrase 在下……, which literally means 'the one below'. This expresses humility by placing yourself physically lower than the listener.
- The word 叫 (jiào) doesn't just mean 'to be called'. It also means 'to shout' or 'to yell', and is the word used for the sound an animal makes, such as a dog barking.
- In Chinese culture, the family name comes before the given name. If you use 我叫…… and say your names in the Western order, listeners may mistake your given name for your surname.
Examples in context
- Wǒ jiào Kǎiluōsī (卡洛斯)，wǒ cóng Xībānyá lái (我从西班牙来)My name is Carlos, and I am from Spain.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
