姓氏

• Pinyin: xìng shì
• Hanzi breakdown: 姓 = 女 + 生 (maternal lineage marker in ancient China); 氏 = ancient pictograph for a clan or noble family

Meaning

Surname; family name. The hereditary name passed down through generations to identify one's family lineage.

A more formal and specific term than 姓 alone. Used in academic, legal, and historical contexts. In Chinese culture, the surname precedes the given name and carries deep genealogical significance.

Examples

1. 中国最常见的姓氏有李、王、张等，其历史渊源可追溯到数千年前。 The most common Chinese surnames include Li, Wang, and Zhang, and their origins can be traced back thousands of years.
2. 研究姓氏文化有助于深入了解古代社会的宗族制度与地域迁徙历史。 Studying surname culture helps deepen our understanding of clan systems in ancient society and the history of regional migration.
3. 申请护照时需提供姓氏的标准拼音写法，以确保与国际证件信息保持一致。 When applying for a passport, you must provide the standardized pinyin spelling of your surname to ensure it matches international document records.

Usage Guide

Context: history, legal documents, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这个村落以某一姓氏为主，大多数居民同宗同源，历史悠久。(This village is dominated by a particular surname; most residents share the same ancestry, with a long history.)
• 古代姓氏制度与宗法制度密切相关，是研究中国家族文化史的重要切入点。(The ancient surname system is closely intertwined with the patriarchal system and is an important entry point for studying Chinese family cultural history.)

Don't Say

• 我的姓氏叫李 — say 我姓李 or 我的姓氏是李; 叫 is used for full names or given names, not surnames in formal identification contexts

Origin & History

姓 (surname — 女 + 生, tracing lineage through birth/maternal line) + 氏 (clan designation — ancient noble clan marker)

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal