我叫……
wǒ jiào …
The English phrase "my name is" can be said in Mandarin as 我叫…… (wǒ jiào …) or 我的名字是……
Meaning: a way to identify oneself (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 我叫…… | wǒ jiào … |
| 我的名字是…… | wǒ de míngzi shì … |
Both forms are used to identify yourself to others. 我叫…… is the most natural and common way to introduce yourself in spoken Mandarin and is appropriate for almost any social situation, ranging from meeting a peer to a business setting.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 我叫…… literally translates to "I am called…". The phrase 我的名字是…… literally translates to "My name is…".
Which one should you use?
我叫…… is the most common and natural way to introduce oneself in spoken Mandarin. In contrast, 我的名字是…… sounds more formal or like a direct translation from English.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 我叫……, the verb 叫 (jiào) is a transitive verb that is directly followed by the person's name without needing a preposition.
How do you pronounce it?
wǒ jiào …
Did you know?
- In very formal or humble settings, some speakers avoid 我 ('I') and use 在下 (zàixià), which literally means 'the one below'. This transforms the introduction into a gesture of modesty.
- In many traditional Chinese settings, people introduce themselves using their surname first, followed by their given name, which is the exact opposite of the Western order.
- When introducing someone else, using 叫 can sound overly casual or blunt. In professional settings, people use the phrase 姓 (xìng) to ask for or state a surname specifically, as the family name carries the most social weight.
Example sentences for Mandarin are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “my name is” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
