Meaning of 姓名
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- surname and given name; full name
How to use 姓名
姓名 is a formal word you see on forms, ID cards, and official documents, usually meaning your full name. In casual talk people prefer 名字 (míngzi). Example: 请写下您的姓名。(Qǐng xiěxià nín de xìngmíng.) Please write down your full name.
姓名 (xìngmíng) is simply 姓 (xìng, surname) plus 名 (míng, given name), so the word literally lists both parts of a full name. In Chinese the surname comes first, just like in the word itself.
Common mistake: Learners often use 姓名 in casual chat, as in 你的姓名是什么, which sounds stiff like a police form. With friends say 你叫什么名字 (nǐ jiào shénme míngzi) instead.
姓名 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
姓 xìng · family name · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
名 míng · name · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 姓名.
| 名字 | míngzi | name (of a person or thing) |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous; well-known |
| 名单 | míngdān | list of names |
| 名称 | míngchēng | name (of a thing); name (of an organization) |
| 报名 | bàomíng | to sign up; to enter one's name |
| 排名 | páimíng | to rank (1st, 2nd etc); ranking |
| 老百姓 | lǎobǎixìng | ordinary people; the "person in the street" |
| 著名 | zhùmíng | famous; noted |
| 名人 | míngrén | personage; celebrity |
| 名片 | míngpiàn | (business) card |
| 点名 | diǎnmíng | roll call; to mention sb by name |
| 名牌儿 | míngpáir | erhua form of 名牌[ming2 pai2] |
Questions about 姓名
What does 姓名 mean?
姓名 (xìngmíng) means "surname and given name; full name" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 姓名?
姓名 is made of 2 characters: 姓 (8 strokes), 名 (6 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 姓名 an HSK word?
Yes. 姓名 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 姓名 and 名字?
姓名 always means the full name, surname plus given name, and is formal. 名字 is everyday speech and can mean the full name or only the given name. 名字 can also name things, while 姓名 is only for people.
How do I ask someone's name politely in Chinese?
A polite way is 您贵姓 (nín guìxìng), which asks for the surname. You can also say 请问您叫什么名字 (qǐngwèn nín jiào shénme míngzi). On a written form, the label is usually just 姓名.