How to Say “What is your name?” in Chinese
Small talk and travel · HSK 1
"What is your name?" in Chinese is 你叫什么名字？ (nǐ jiào shén me míng zi). 你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi, "you are called what name") is the neutral name question. In formal settings use 您贵姓 (nín guì xìng, "your honourable surname"); answer with 我姓X (my surname is X) then add the given name.
Primary translation
你叫什么名字？
nǐ jiào shén me míng zi
Traditional: 你叫什麼名字？
Variants by register
Formal
请问您贵姓？
qǐng wèn nín guì xìng
When to use it
你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi, "you are called what name") is the neutral name question. In formal settings use 您贵姓 (nín guì xìng, "your honourable surname"); answer with 我姓X (my surname is X) then add the given name. Between peers, a shorter 你叫什么 (what are you called) is common. Chinese order is surname then given name; 王小明 means the family name is 王, the given name is 小明.
Example sentences
你叫什么名字？
Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What is your name?
请问您贵姓？
Qǐngwèn nín guì xìng?
May I ask your surname?
我姓李，叫李雪。
Wǒ xìng Lǐ, jiào Lǐ Xuě.
My surname is Li, my full name is Li Xue.