How common it is
姓 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xìng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
姓表示家族名字，也就是姓氏。
xìng biǎo shì jiā zú míng zì， yě jiù shì xìng shì。
姓 means the family name or surname.
Context note
姓常出现在自我介绍和问名字时。
xìng cháng chū xiàn zài zì wǒ jiè shào hé wèn míng zì shí。
姓 often appears in self-introductions and when asking for a name.
5 examples
你姓什么？
nǐ xìng shén me？
What is your surname?
我姓王。
wǒ xìng wáng。
My surname is Wang.
她姓李。
tā xìng lǐ。
Her surname is Li.
老师姓张。
lǎo shī xìng zhāng。
The teacher's surname is Zhang.
请告诉我你的姓。
qǐng gào sù wǒ nǐ de xìng。
Please tell me your surname.
5 mini stories
第一次见面时，老师先问我姓什么。
dì yī cì jiàn miàn shí， lǎo shī xiān wèn wǒ xìng shén me。
When we first met, the teacher first asked what my surname was.
我的爸爸姓陈，妈妈也认识很多陈老师。
wǒ de bà ba xìng chén， mā ma yě rèn shi hěn duō chén lǎo shī。
My dad's surname is Chen, and Mom knows many teachers with the surname Chen.
我学会了先说姓，再说名字。
wǒ xué huì le xiān shuō xìng， zài shuō míng zì。
I learned to say my surname first and then my given name.
请问您姓什么？我好写在名单上。
qǐng wèn nín xìng shén me？ wǒ hǎo xiě zài míng dān shàng。
May I ask your surname? I need to write it on the list.
班里有同学姓赵，也有同学姓王。
bān lǐ yǒu tóng xué xìng zhào， yě yǒu tóng xué xìng wáng。
There are classmates with the surname Zhao and classmates with the surname Wang.