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How to Say ‘What is your name?’ in Simplified Chinese

你叫什么名字？

nǐ jiào shén me míng zì

[nee Jiào shuhn-muh Míngzì]

💬 Usage Tip: Literally "you are called what name?" The question word sits where the answer goes, so you reply by just swapping it out: 我叫….

🇨🇳 In China: With older or senior people, the more polite way to ask is 您贵姓？ "what is your honorable surname?"

Phrase Breakdown

你叫

nǐ jiào

you are called

你 (nǐ) means 'you', and 叫 (jiào) means 'to be called'. 叫 is a sharp falling fourth tone.

Example

你叫小明吗？

Are you called Xiaoming?

Words in this phrase

你

nǐ

[nee]

you

A familiar singular pronoun meaning 'you.'

Example

你好，我是你的新同事。

Hello, I am your new coworker.

叫

jiào

[Jiào]

to be called

Used to indicate one's name.

Example

我叫张伟。

I am called Zhang Wei.

什么名字？

shén me míng zì

what name?

什么 (shénme) means 'what', and 名字 (míngzi) means 'name'. 么 and 字 are light neutral tones. Use a retroflex 'sh' in 什.

Example

他叫什么名字？

What is his name?

Words in this phrase

什么

shén me

[shuhn-muh]

what

A question word used to ask about things, ideas, or choices.

Example

这是什么图？

What chart is this?

名字

míng zì

[Míngzì]

name

Word indicating a person's name.

Example

你的名字是什么？

What is your name?

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