名字
/miŋ³⁵ d͡z̥ɹ̩³/
The English phrase 'names' is translated into Chinese as 名字.
When asking for someone's name, Chinese speakers typically use the structure 叫什么名字, which literally translates to 'called what name'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 名字 is composed of 名 (míng), meaning 'name' and 字 (zì), meaning 'character' or 'word'.
Which one should you use?
While 名字 is the common word for 'name', 姓名 (xìngmíng) is used in formal contexts like filling out forms to refer to one's full name (surname and given name).
How does it change in a sentence?
名字 is a noun that does not change its form to indicate plurality. The context or a number determines if it refers to one name or multiple names.
How do you pronounce it?
/miŋ³⁵ dz̥ɹ̩³/
Did you know?
- Chinese parents often choose a 名字 based on the Five Elements, adding a character for wood, fire, earth, metal or water to balance the child's astrological profile.
- In ancient Chinese culture, a person often had two distinct names: the 名 (míng) used for family and the 字 (zì) used by friends and colleagues.
- Some people have a 'milk name' 乳名, a childhood nickname used only by family that is completely different from their formal 名字.
Examples in context
- 你們叫什麼名字?What are your names?This sentence is useful for asking a group of people for their names using 名字.Tatoeba #3148912 by cienias, translation #2647340 by CK
- 他不擅長記名字。He's not good at remembering names.This sentence is useful for describing someone's difficulty in remembering names using 名字.Tatoeba #13598236 by LeviHighway, translation #1258675 by CK
- 许多移民改了名字。Many of the immigrants changed their names.This sentence is useful for discussing immigrants changing their names using 名字.Tatoeba #5685912 by verdastelo9604, translation #4496388 by CK
- 19 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen and Wei are checking a guest list at a party.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen偉，你看到那些名字了嗎？wěi, nǐ kàn dào nà xiē míng zi le ma?Wei, did you see those names?
- 伟 Wei我看見了，但我不確定誰是誰。wǒ kàn jiàn le, dàn wǒ bù què dìng shéi shì shéi.I saw them, but I'm not sure who is who.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你可以先記下這些名字。nǐ kě yǐ xiān jì xià zhè xiē míng zi.You can write these names down first.
- 伟 Wei好的，我現在就寫。hǎo de, wǒ xiàn zài jiù xiě.Okay, I will write them now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 名字, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 名字, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
