How to Say Your Name in Mandarin Chinese: Formal and Informal Introductions
Learn to state your name and basic information politely in Mandarin Chinese. This beginner lesson covers formal and informal ways to introduce yourself and respond when someone introduces themselves.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
Introducing yourself is one of the first things you do when meeting someone new. In Mandarin Chinese, the way you state your name changes depending on whether the situation is formal or informal. This lesson teaches you how to say your name politely, share basic information like where you are from, and respond when someone introduces themselves. You will learn key phrases such as 我叫 (wǒ jiào) and 我是 (wǒ shì), and understand when to use each. By the end, you will be able to introduce yourself confidently in both casual and formal settings. No prior knowledge of Chinese characters or tones is required, but you will see pinyin with tone marks to help with pronunciation.
By the end, you can…
- state my name in Mandarin Chinese using both formal and informal expressions.
- share basic information about myself, such as where I am from.
- respond appropriately when someone introduces themselves to me.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我叫王明。
My name is Wang Ming.
wǒ jiào Wáng Míng
The most common way to give your name. Use in both formal and informal situations. 叫 (jiào) literally means 'to be called'.
我是王明。
I am Wang Ming.
wǒ shì Wáng Míng
A simple statement of identity. Less common than 我叫 for giving your name, but perfectly acceptable. Use when you want to be direct.
我姓王。
My surname is Wang.
wǒ xìng Wáng
Use this to give only your family name. In Chinese, the surname comes first. This is polite and common in formal contexts.
我是美国人。
I am American.
wǒ shì Měiguó rén
State your nationality by saying 我是 + country + 人. Replace 美国 (Měiguó) with your country.
很高兴认识你。
Nice to meet you.
hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ
Say this after someone introduces themselves or after you introduce yourself. It is polite and suitable for most situations.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To state your name, use the pattern 我叫 + [name]. For example, 我叫李华 (wǒ jiào Lǐ Huá) means 'My name is Li Hua.' To state your nationality or occupation, use 我是 + [noun]. For example, 我是老师 (wǒ shì lǎoshī) means 'I am a teacher.' Note that Chinese does not use articles like 'a' or 'an', so 我是老师 literally is 'I am teacher.' Also, there is no verb conjugation: 是 (shì) stays the same for all subjects. To ask someone's name, you would say 你叫什么名字？ (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?), but this lesson focuses on stating your own information.
When to use it
Use 我叫 in most situations, both formal and informal. It is neutral and safe. Use 我是 when you want to state your identity more directly, such as 我是王明, but it can sound slightly abrupt if overused. Use 我姓 when you only want to give your family name, which is common in formal settings like business meetings or when speaking to someone older. For nationality, always use 我是 + country + 人. For example, 我是中国人 (wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén) means 'I am Chinese.' When someone introduces themselves, respond with 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ) to be polite. In informal settings, you can shorten it to 很高兴认识你 or simply 你好 (nǐ hǎo).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你好，我叫张丽。
Hello, my name is Zhang Li.nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Zhāng Lì你好，我是王明。很高兴认识你。
Hello, I am Wang Ming. Nice to meet you.nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Wáng Míng. hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ我也很高兴认识你。我是中国人。
Nice to meet you too. I am Chinese.wǒ yě hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ. wǒ shì Zhōngguó rén我是美国人。
I am American.wǒ shì Měiguó rénA little context goes a long way
In Chinese culture, the family name comes first, followed by the given name. When introducing yourself, it is common to give your full name or just your family name, especially in formal situations. Using 您 (nín), the polite form of 'you', is not necessary when talking about yourself, but it is good to know for listening. Also, Chinese people often use titles like 先生 (xiānsheng, Mr.) or 女士 (nǚshì, Ms.) after the surname, e.g., 王先生 (Wáng xiānsheng). However, when stating your own name, you do not use these titles. In informal settings, younger people may introduce themselves with just their given name, but it is safer to use your full name until invited to do otherwise.
One thing to watch for
Learners often say 我是王明 to introduce their name, thinking it is the most direct translation of 'I am Wang Ming.' While grammatically correct, it can sound a bit stiff or overly literal in casual introductions.
Try this instead: Use 我叫王明 (wǒ jiào Wáng Míng) instead. 我叫 is the standard way to give your name and sounds more natural. For example, when meeting a new colleague, say 你好，我叫王明. Reserve 我是 for stating your identity in other contexts, such as 我是老师 (I am a teacher).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'My name is Li Na' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
我叫李娜。
This uses the pattern 我叫 + name. 李娜 (Lǐ Nà) is the name. You could also say 我是李娜, but 我叫 is more common for introductions.
2What is the polite response when someone says '我叫王明' to you?
Show a sample answer
很高兴认识你。
This means 'Nice to meet you.' It is the standard polite response. In informal settings, you could also say 你好, but 很高兴认识你 is always appropriate.
3How do you say 'I am Chinese' in Mandarin?
Show a sample answer
我是中国人。
Use 我是 + country + 人. 中国 (Zhōngguó) means China, so 中国人 means Chinese person. Replace with your own nationality.
Use 我叫 + name to introduce yourself naturally in most situations. Use 我是 + noun to state your nationality or occupation. Respond with 很高兴认识你 when someone introduces themselves. Remember that Chinese names put the family name first, and there is no verb conjugation or articles to worry about.
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