How to Say 'This Is My Friend Sam' in Mandarin Chinese
Learn to introduce another person in Mandarin with 这是我的朋友 Sam, using 这, 是, 的 and 朋友. Includes pinyin, tone marks, a short dialogue and common mistakes.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
Introducing someone else is not the same as introducing yourself. In Mandarin, you normally point to the person with 这 (zhè, 'this') and then say who they are with 是 (shì, 'to be'). The basic sentence is 这是我的朋友 Sam (Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou Sam). Notice three things: Mandarin has no verb 'to be' change for person, no article like 'a', and the possessive word 的 (de) links 我 ('I/me') to 朋友 ('friend'). This lesson teaches that pattern, plus a short detail you can add, such as where Sam is from or what Sam does.
By the end, you can…
- introduce another person using 这是我的朋友 plus a name.
- add one short detail about that person, such as nationality or job.
- tell the difference between introducing myself and introducing someone else.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
这是我的朋友 Sam。
This is my friend Sam.
Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou Sam.
The standard, neutral way to introduce a friend. 朋友 is often pronounced péngyou with a light second syllable in everyday speech.
他叫 Sam。
He is called Sam.
Tā jiào Sam.
Use 叫 (jiào) to give a name. 他 is 'he'; for a female friend use 她 (tā), which sounds the same.
他是美国人。
He is American.
Tā shì Měiguó rén.
Add a nationality with 是 + country + 人. Replace 美国 with 英国 (Britain), 中国 (China), etc.
她是我的同学。
She is my classmate.
Tā shì wǒ de tóngxué.
Use 同学 (tóngxué) for a school or university classmate. For a work colleague, use 同事 (tóngshì).
我们一起来吧。
Let's come together.
Wǒmen yìqǐ lái ba.
A friendly line after an introduction, inviting the new person to join. 吧 (ba) softens the suggestion. Note that 来 (lái) here means 'to come (along)', so the line works when you are inviting someone to join you.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 这 + 是 + 我的 + 朋友 + name: 这是我的朋友 Sam. 这 means 'this', 是 means 'is/are', 我的 means 'my', and 朋友 means 'friend'. To add a detail, put a second 是 sentence after it: 这是我的朋友 Sam。他是美国人。 ('This is my friend Sam. He is American.') You can also use 叫 for the name: 这是我的朋友。他叫 Sam。 Mandarin does not add 'a' or 'an', and 朋友 stays the same for one or many friends. Note that 是 is not used before adjectives: to say 'Sam is tall', say Sam 很高 (Sam hěn gāo), not Sam 是高.
When to use it
Use 这是我的朋友 when the person is standing with you or nearby, because 这 points to someone close. If the person is farther away, use 那 (nà, 'that'): 那是我的朋友 Sam. In more formal situations, such as introducing a colleague to a client, you can say 这位是我的朋友 Sam (Zhè wèi shì wǒ de péngyou Sam). 这位 (zhè wèi) is a polite 'this person'. For a close friend, 好朋友 (hǎo péngyou, 'good friend') sounds warmer: 这是我的好朋友 Sam.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，这是我的朋友 Sam。
Hello, this is my friend Sam.Nǐ hǎo, zhè shì wǒ de péngyou Sam.你好，Sam。很高兴认识你。
Hello, Sam. Nice to meet you.Nǐ hǎo, Sam. Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.他是美国人，是我的同学。
He is American, and he is my classmate.Tā shì Měiguó rén, shì wǒ de tóngxué.太好了，我们一起来吧。
Great, let's come together.Tài hǎo le, wǒmen yìqǐ lái ba.A little context goes a long way
In many Chinese-speaking settings, introductions often include a role or relationship, not only a name. Saying 这是我的同学 or 这是我的同事 gives the listener useful context. First names alone can feel incomplete in formal situations, so 这位 is a safe polite choice. Age and job titles may be asked in some contexts, but you do not have to answer personal questions if you are uncomfortable.
One thing to watch for
Saying 这是我的朋友 Sam 是美国人, putting two 是 phrases together without a pause or subject.
Try this instead: Use a complete second sentence with its own subject: 这是我的朋友 Sam。他是美国人。 ('This is my friend Sam. He is American.') If you want one sentence, use 我的美国朋友 Sam (wǒ de Měiguó péngyou Sam), meaning 'my American friend Sam'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'This is my friend Sam' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
这是我的朋友 Sam。 (Zhè shì wǒ de péngyou Sam.)
这 (this) + 是 (is) + 我的 (my) + 朋友 (friend) + name is the standard pattern. 这位是我的朋友 Sam is also correct and slightly more polite.
2You want to add that Sam is British. What sentence do you say?
Show a sample answer
他是英国人。 (Tā shì Yīngguó rén.)
Use 他/她 + 是 + country + 人. 英国 is Britain, so 英国人 means 'British person'. For a female friend, 她 is correct in writing; it sounds the same as 他.
3Your friend is standing far away. Which word replaces 这?
Show a sample answer
那 (nà)
那 means 'that' and points to someone farther away: 那是我的朋友 Sam. 这 is for someone close to you.
To introduce someone else, say 这是我的朋友 plus the name, then add one short 是 sentence for a detail. Use 这位 for a polite tone and 那 when the person is farther away.
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