你叫咩名呀？
nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3?
你叫咩名呀？ (nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3?) is the Cantonese phrase for "what is your name?"
你叫咩名呀？ is used as a question to ask someone for their name. It is most appropriate for casual, everyday situations, such as when you are meeting someone your own age or someone younger.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "You are called what name [particle]?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal or professional settings, it is more polite to ask for someone's surname using 請問你貴姓？ rather than asking for their full name directly.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hong Kong Cantonese, 你叫乜野名呀？ is used to mean "What is your name?" In Guangzhou Cantonese, 你叫乜个名呀？ is used to mean "What is your name?"
How does it change in a sentence?
Removing the final particle 呀 makes the question 你叫咩名？ sound more direct and slightly less soft or casual.
How do you pronounce it?
nei5 giu3 me1 meng2 aa3?
Did you know?
- In Cantonese culture, asking for a person's surname using 貴姓 literally translates to 'noble surname', reflecting a traditional custom of showing respect by assuming the other person's lineage is prestigious.
- In traditional Cantonese society, a person's 'milk name' or childhood nickname is often used among close friends, making the formal 'what is your name' question unnecessary in tight circles.
- The word 咩 used for 'what' in this phrase is a distinctive Cantonese marker that does not exist in standard Mandarin, where the word 什麼 is used instead.
Examples in context
- 請問你叫咩名？(cing2 man6 nei5 giu3 me1 ming4?)May I ask what your name is?
- 你叫乜嘢名呀？(nei5 giu3 mat1 je5 ming4 aa3?)What's your name?
- 你叫咩名呀？nei5 giu3 me1 ming2 aa3?What is your name?
- 唔好意思，你叫咩名呀？m4 hou2 si6 ji5, nei5 giu3 me1 ming2 aa3?Excuse me, what is your name?
Example conversation
Two strangers meeting at a social gathering.
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung你好，請問你叫咩名呀？nei5 hou2, cing2 man6 nei5 giu3 me1 ming2 aa3?Hello, may I ask what your name is?
- 俊傑 Chun Kit我叫俊傑，你呢？ngo5 giu3 zeon3 kit6, nei5 ne1?My name is Chun Kit, and you?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung我叫曉彤。ngo5 giu3 hiu2 tung4.My name is Hiu Tung.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好高興認識你，曉彤。hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5, hiu2 tung4.Nice to meet you, Hiu Tung.
