Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 姓 means.
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
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
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
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 姓 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 姓 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 姓?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 姓 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
姓 = 女 + 生. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 姓
IDS Structure⿰女生
姓Full Character
=
女nü3
left
生sheng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part 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
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 姓 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
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.
