Making acquaintances in Chinese
- 您贵姓?Nín guì xìng?What is your family name? (very polite formula)
-
免贵姓……
Miǎn guì xìng...
My surname is... (very polite answer: 免贵 miǎn guì, literally “spare the precious”, answers the 贵 guì of the question)
- 你姓什么?Nǐ xìng shénme?What is your family name?
- 我姓……Wǒ xìng... My family name is...
- 你叫什么名字?Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?What's your name?
-
我叫……
Wǒ jiào...
My name is... (surname and given name, or given name only)
- 你多大了?Nǐ duō dà le?How old are you?
-
你几岁了?
Nǐ jǐ suì le?
How old are you? (for a child)
-
我……岁了。
Wǒ ... suì le.
I am ... years old. (the number goes before 岁 suì)
- 你住哪儿?Nǐ zhù nǎr?Where do you live?
-
我住……
Wǒ zhù...
I live in...
- 你做什么工作?Nǐ zuò shénme gōngzuò?What do you do for work?
-
我是……
Wǒ shì...
I am...
- 你是哪国人?Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?What is your nationality?
- 我是法国人。Wǒ shì Fǎguó rén.I am French.