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March 24, 2026
姓xìng(xing4)
The character 姓 (xìng) refers to a family name or surname in Chinese culture, indicating one's lineage. It is commonly used when asking or stating someone's surname and is a key part of personal identification in Chinese society.
Strokes8Radical女Frequency#2420DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the surname is extremely important and is often placed before the given name, reflecting familial heritage and respect for ancestors. Certain surnames carry historical significance and can be tied to specific regions or clans.
Memory Tip
Imagine a family tree (the '姓' character) where members are connected by their shared surname, representing their clan. The '女' (woman) radical inside this character can remind you that surnames are often passed down through families, linking generations.
Meanings of 姓
xìng(xing4)
1family name
2to be surnamed
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 姓
姓Simplified
8Strokes
女Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2420Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 姓
Podcast: 姓
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AI Study Notes for 姓
Quick Contrast
姓 (xìng) vs 名 (míng) — use 姓 when referring to a family name, while 名 refers specifically to a given name.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 姓 (xìng) with 名 (míng), which means 'given name.' In conversational contexts, it's common to ask someone their 姓 when meeting them, but it's more formal to ask for their 全名 (quánmíng) or full name. Remember that the tone is crucial; xìng has a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 vocabulary word, 姓 connects to other personal identification terms, such as 名 (name) and 叫 (to be called). Students should focus on using it in questions and introductions, like '你姓什么?' (What is your surname?).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly mix up 姓 and 名; for instance, saying '我名王' (Wǒ míng Wáng) instead of '我姓王' (Wǒ xìng Wáng). Additionally, some forget to use the correct tone, leading to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 姓
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Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 生 represents the sound.
1The meaning half女 carries the sense.
2The sound half生 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywoman
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 姓? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 姓?
Decomposition of 姓
IDS Structure⿰女生
姓Full Character
=
女nü3
left
生sheng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 姓?
How to say family name in Chinese
“family name” in Chinese is姓xìng
The character 姓 (xìng) refers to a family name or surname in Chinese culture, indicating one's lineage. It is commonly used when asking or stating someone's surname and is a key part of personal identification in Chinese society.
When to use 姓
Be careful not to confuse 姓 (xìng) with 名 (míng), which means 'given name.' In conversational contexts, it's common to ask someone their 姓 when meeting them, but it's more formal to ask for their 全名 (quánmíng) or full name. Remember that the tone is crucial; xìng has a falling tone.
姓 or something close to it
姓 (xìng) vs 名 (míng) — use 姓 when referring to a family name, while 名 refers specifically to a given name.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly mix up 姓 and 名; for instance, saying '我名王' (Wǒ míng Wáng) instead of '我姓王' (Wǒ xìng Wáng). Additionally, some forget to use the correct tone, leading to misunderstandings.
Write 姓
姓
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Practice writing 姓 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 姓
姓 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
