姓名

• Pinyin: xìng míng
• Hanzi breakdown: 姓 = 女 (woman) + 生 (birth), reflecting matrilineal origins of surnames; 名 = 夕 (evening) + 口 (mouth), meaning 'name called out in the dark'

Meaning

Full name, including both surname and given name. Used in formal contexts.

姓名 is the formal term for a person's full name, commonly seen on forms, documents, and official records. In casual speech, people use 名字 instead. In Chinese culture, the surname comes first, followed by the given name. Related words include 姓 (surname) and 名字 (name).

Examples

1. 请在这里写上你的姓名。 Please write your full name here.
2. 老师叫了我的姓名。 The teacher called out my full name.
3. 表格上要填写姓名和电话。 You need to fill in your full name and phone number on the form.

Usage Guide

Context: official documents, formal occasions

Tone: formal

Do Say

• 请告诉我你的姓名。(Please tell me your full name.)
• 姓名要用中文写。(The full name should be written in Chinese.)

Don't Say

• 你的姓名叫什么？ (姓名 does not collocate with 叫 — say 你叫什么名字？ or 请问您的姓名？)

Origin & History

姓 means 'surname' or 'family name,' and 名 means 'given name' or 'first name.' Together they mean the complete name of a person.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal