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March 24, 2026
姓名()xìngmíng(xing4ming2)
姓名 (xìngmíng) refers to a person's full name, which includes both their surname (姓 xìng) and given name (名 míng). This term is commonly used in formal contexts, such as official documents, introductions, and applications, where identifying a person is essential.
Frequency#4042DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In China, a person's name often reflects their family's lineage and can carry deep cultural significance. Surnames are usually inherited and can indicate regional or historical ties, making them important in social identity.
Memory Tip
Think of 姓 (xìng) as the 'family tree' and 名 (míng) as the 'individual branch.' Together, they form the complete identity of a person. Visualize a tree where '姓' is the trunk, representing the family name, and '名' are the leaves, representing individual names.
Meanings of 姓名
xìngmíng(xing4ming2)
1name and surname
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About 姓名
姓名Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 姓名
Podcast: 姓名
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AI Study Notes for 姓名
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 姓 (xìng) as the 'family tree' and 名 (míng) as the 'individual branch.' Together, they form the complete identity of a person. Visualize a tree where '姓' is the trunk, representing the family name, and '名' are the leaves, representing individual names.
Usage Notes
Be aware that in Chinese culture, the surname comes first, followed by the given name, which is the opposite of many Western naming conventions. A common mistake is to reverse the order when addressing someone, for example, saying 'John Smith' instead of 'Smith John.'
HSK Study Tips
While 姓名 is not an HSK level word, it connects well with basic vocabulary about family and introductions. Focus on distinguishing between the two components: 姓 and 名, as knowing these can help in understanding many other related terms in Chinese.
Cultural Note
In China, a person's name often reflects their family's lineage and can carry deep cultural significance. Surnames are usually inherited and can indicate regional or historical ties, making them important in social identity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to separate the two parts of 姓名, confusing it with just 'name' instead of 'full name.' For example, using it to refer only to the given name is incorrect; 姓名 always includes both the surname and the given name.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姓名
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Cultural Notes for 姓名
🏮Cultural insight
In China, a person's name often reflects their family's lineage and can carry deep cultural significance. Surnames are usually inherited and can indicate regional or historical ties, making them important in social identity.
Frequently Asked Questions about 姓名
姓 (xìng) means 'surname' or 'family name' in Chinese.
You can ask '你叫什么名字?' (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?), which means 'What is your name?'. This will elicit their 姓名.
姓名 is more formal; in casual settings, simply asking for someone's name might suffice.
