Fun Chinese - Learn Real Chinese

Using 姓 (xìng) - Surname

姓 is used to state or ask about someone's surname. It can be used as both a verb ('to be surnamed') and a noun ('surname').

Pattern:

Subject + 姓 + Surname

Examples:

我姓王。

Wǒ xìng Wáng.

My surname is Wang.

你姓什么？

Nǐ xìng shénme?

What is your surname?

他姓李。

Tā xìng Lǐ.

His surname is Li.

💡 Note:

In Chinese culture, the surname comes first, followed by the given name. When introducing yourself formally, you can use 姓 to state your surname.

Using 叫 (jiào) - To be called

叫 means 'to be called' or 'to call'. It's used to state or ask about someone's full name or given name.

Pattern:

Subject + 叫 + Name

Examples:

我叫李一明。

Wǒ jiào Lǐ Yīmíng.

I'm called Li Yiming. / My name is Li Yiming.

你叫什么名字？

Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?

What is your name?

她叫王小年。

Tā jiào Wáng Xiǎonián.

She is called Wang Xiaonian.

💡 Note:

叫 is more casual than 姓 and is used for full names or given names. You can combine both: 我姓王，叫王小年 (My surname is Wang, I'm called Wang Xiaonian).

Using 也 (yě) - Also, too

也 means 'also' or 'too'. It's placed before the verb to indicate that the subject shares the same characteristic or performs the same action.

Pattern:

Subject + 也 + Verb/Adjective

Examples:

我也有课。

Wǒ yě yǒu kè.

I also have class.

他也是学生。

Tā yě shì xuésheng.

He is also a student.

我也很好。

Wǒ yě hěn hǎo.

I'm also very well.

💡 Note:

也 always comes before the verb or adjective, never at the end of the sentence like 'too' in English.

Using 对了 (duì le) - By the way

对了 is a conversational phrase meaning 'by the way' or 'oh right'. It's used to introduce a new topic or remember something you wanted to say.

Pattern:

对了，[new topic/statement]

Examples:

对了，我叫李一明。

Duì le, wǒ jiào Lǐ Yīmíng.

By the way, I'm called Li Yiming.

对了，你有课吗？

Duì le, nǐ yǒu kè ma?

By the way, do you have class?

对了，今天是星期几？

Duì le, jīntiān shì xīngqī jǐ?

By the way, what day is today?

💡 Note:

对了 is very common in casual conversation and makes your Chinese sound more natural and fluent.

Question Particle 吗 (ma)

吗 is added to the end of a statement to turn it into a yes/no question.

Pattern:

Statement + 吗？

Examples:

你有课吗？

Nǐ yǒu kè ma?

Do you have class?

你是学生吗？

Nǐ shì xuésheng ma?

Are you a student?

你好吗？

Nǐ hǎo ma?

How are you? (Are you well?)

💡 Note:

This is the simplest way to form a yes/no question in Chinese. Just add 吗 to any statement!

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