How to Ask Someone's Name in Chinese: Polite and Casual Ways
Learn to ask for a name in Mandarin Chinese using 你叫什么名字, 您贵姓, and related patterns. Understand when to use each and practice with a dialogue.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Asking someone's name is one of the first real conversations you will have in Chinese. The direct question is 你叫什么名字? (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?), but the polite version depends on the situation. For a stranger, an older person, or someone in a service role, you might ask 您贵姓? (Nín guìxìng?) to request their surname respectfully. This lesson teaches you the exact phrases, the difference between 你 and 您, and how to respond naturally. You will not learn self-introductions here; the focus is only on asking. By the end, you will be able to choose the right question for a casual chat, a formal meeting, or a quick exchange with staff.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone's name in Chinese using both informal and polite forms.
- ask for someone's surname politely with 您贵姓 and understand when to use it.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
你叫什么名字？
What is your name?
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
The standard informal way to ask a peer, friend, or someone younger. Use 你 (nǐ) for 'you'.
您贵姓？
May I ask your surname?
Nín guìxìng?
Very polite and formal. Use with strangers, elders, or in business settings. 您 (nín) is the respectful 'you'.
请问，您怎么称呼？
May I ask, how should I address you?
Qǐngwèn, nín zěnme chēnghu?
A polite, slightly formal way to ask for a name or title. Common in service encounters or when you are unsure of the person's status.
你叫什么？
What are you called?
Nǐ jiào shénme?
Casual and shorter. It omits 名字 (míngzi, 'name') but is understood in relaxed conversation. Best with friends or people your age.
请问您贵姓？
May I ask your surname?
Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?
Adds 请问 (qǐngwèn, 'may I ask') to soften the question further. Very polite; often used when speaking to staff or officials.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for asking a name is 你/您 + 叫 + 什么名字. 你叫 (nǐ jiào) is informal; 您叫 (nín jiào) is respectful. For example, 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) means 'What is your name?' and 您叫什么名字？ (Nín jiào shénme míngzi?) is the polite version. To ask specifically for a surname, use 您贵姓？ (Nín guìxìng?). Here 贵 (guì) literally means 'precious' or 'honorable', and it is a fixed polite formula, not a literal question about value. You can also say 请问您贵姓？ (Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?) to add 'may I ask'. Note that 贵姓 is only for surnames; do not use it to ask for a full name.
When to use it
Choose your question based on the relationship and setting. With friends, classmates, or people clearly younger than you, 你叫什么名字？ is perfectly fine. With a stranger, an older person, a supervisor, or someone in a formal service role, use 您贵姓？ or 请问，您怎么称呼？. For example, at a hotel front desk you might ask 请问您贵姓？ to get the clerk's surname politely. If you are chatting with a new colleague your age, 你叫什么名字？ works well. Avoid using 您 with close friends, as it can sound distant. Similarly, 你叫什么？ is too casual for formal situations. When in doubt, a polite 请问 softens any question.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，请问您贵姓？
Hello, may I ask your surname?Nǐhǎo, qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?我姓王。您呢？
My surname is Wang. And you?Wǒ xìng Wáng. Nín ne?我姓李。您怎么称呼？
My surname is Li. How should I address you?Wǒ xìng Lǐ. Nín zěnme chēnghu?叫我小王就好。
Just call me Xiao Wang.Jiào wǒ Xiǎo Wáng jiù hǎo.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese, asking for a surname with 您贵姓 is a traditional polite formula. It is common in formal introductions, business cards, and service encounters. However, among young people or in casual settings, 你叫什么名字 is more natural. Using 您 too much with friends can feel stiff. Also, Chinese people often give their full name when asked 你叫什么名字, but when asked 您贵姓 they typically reply with just their surname, sometimes adding a title like 小王 or 老李.
One thing to watch for
Using 您贵姓 to ask for a full name, or replying to 您贵姓 with your full name.
Try this instead: 您贵姓 specifically asks for the surname only. If someone asks 您贵姓？, answer with 我姓 + surname, for example, 我姓张 (Wǒ xìng Zhāng). To ask for a full name, use 您叫什么名字？ (Nín jiào shénme míngzi?).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are meeting a new client who is older than you. How do you politely ask their surname?
Show a sample answer
请问您贵姓？
This uses 您 (polite 'you') and 贵姓 (honorable surname), which is appropriate for formal situations. 请问 adds extra politeness. You could also say 请问您怎么称呼？, which is equally polite.
2A friend your age introduces you to their roommate. What is a natural way to ask the roommate's name?
Show a sample answer
你叫什么名字？
This is the standard informal question for peers. It uses 你 (informal 'you') and 叫什么名字 (called what name). You could also say 你叫什么？ in a very casual setting, but 你叫什么名字？ is clearer and still friendly.
3Someone asks you 您贵姓？ How do you reply if your surname is Chen?
Show a sample answer
我姓陈。
This directly answers the surname question with 我姓 (my surname is) plus the surname. You can add 您呢？ to return the question. Giving your full name would be over-answering, though it is not strictly wrong; it just does not match the question's scope.
Use 你叫什么名字？ for casual settings and 您贵姓？ for polite or formal ones. Remember that 您贵姓 asks only for the surname, so reply with 我姓 + surname. When in doubt, add 请问 to soften your question.
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