Learn how to ask and answer the question "What is your name?"
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| Eric:Top 25 Chinese Questions You Need to Know - Lesson 1: What's your name? in Chinese. In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Chinese learners, and then learn how to answer the question like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
| In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question “What's your name?” In Chinese this is |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? |
| The first word of the question is |
| Cho:你 |
| Eric:meaning “you” in English. |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 你 |
| Eric:Listen again and repeat. |
| Cho:你 |
| {Pause} |
| Eric:This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Cho:叫 |
| Eric:meaning “to be called.” |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 叫 |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Cho:叫 |
| {Pause} |
| Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Cho:你叫 |
| {pause} |
| Next is |
| Cho:什么 |
| Eric:meaning “what.” |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 什么 |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Cho:什么 |
| {Pause} |
| Listen to the the first 3 words of the question and repeat. |
| Cho:你叫什么 |
| {pause} |
| And next |
| Cho:名字 |
| Eric:meaning “name” |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 名字 |
| Eric:Now repeat. |
| Cho:名字 |
| {Pause} |
| Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? |
| Eric:It literally means "You’re called what name?” |
| {pause} |
| Eric:You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question “What's your name?” |
| Cho:我叫李梅。 |
| Eric:"My name is Li Mei.” It literally means “I’m called Li Mei.” Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Cho:(Slow) 我叫李梅。 |
| {pause} |
| Eric:Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Cho:我 |
| Eric:meaning “I”. |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 我 |
| Eric:Now repeat |
| Cho:我 |
| {Pause} |
| Eric:And next |
| Cho:叫 |
| meaning “to be called.” |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 叫 |
| A:Now repeat. |
| Cho:叫 |
| {Pause} |
| Eric:And next |
| Cho:李梅 |
| which is the name “Li Mei.” |
| Cho:(Slow, by syllable) 李梅 |
| A:Now repeat. |
| Cho:李梅 |
| {Pause} |
| Eric:Listen to the speaker say, “My name is Li Mei.”, and then repeat. |
| Cho:我叫李梅。 |
| {pause} |
| Eric:To expand on the pattern, replace Li Mei with David. |
| Cho:大卫 |
| Eric:David |
| Cho:(slow) 大卫 (regular) 大卫 |
| Eric:Listen to the phrase again, this time with David |
| Cho:我叫大卫。 |
| Eric:It mostly stays the same. Simply replace Li Mei with David. Say “My name is David.” |
| {pause} |
| Cho:我叫大卫。 |
| Eric:To expand on the pattern, replace David with Suzuki. |
| Cho:铃木 |
| Eric:Suzuki |
| Cho:(slow) 铃木 (regular) 铃木 |
| Eric:Listen to the phrase again, this time with Suzuki |
| Cho:我叫铃木。 |
| Eric:It mostly stays the same. Simply replace the name David with Suzuki. Say” My name is Suzuki.” |
| {pause} |
| Cho:我叫铃木。 |
| Eric:To expand on this pattern, replace Suzuki with Tony. |
| Cho:托尼 |
| Eric: Tony |
| Cho:(slow) 托尼 (regular) 托尼 |
| Eric:Listen to the phrase again, this time with Tony. |
| Cho:我叫托尼。 |
| Eric:It mostly stays the same. Simply replace the name “Suzuki” with “Tony.” Say My name is Tony. |
| {pause} |
| Cho:我叫托尼。 |
| Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you're visiting China and someone asks you your name. Your name is Li Mei. Respond to the question. |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? (five seconds) 我叫李梅。 |
| Eric:Now, your name is “David.” Respond to the question. |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? (five seconds) 我叫大卫。 |
| Eric:Imagine your name is “Suzuki.” Answer the speaker's question. |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? (five seconds) 我叫铃木。 |
| Eric:Imagine your name is “Tony.” Respond to the question. |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? (five seconds) 我叫托尼。 |
| Eric:You want to learn that person’s name. Ask the question. |
| (5 seconds) |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? |
| {pause} |
| Eric:Now it's time to answer the question with actual information about yourself. |
| Cho:你叫什么名字? |
| Eric:This is the end of Lesson 1 |
Comments
HideTry to answer to the question 'What is your name?' in Chinese!
Hello Roy Semmens,
Thank you for your comment.
"My name is Roy." You can say 我的名字是Roy。 Wǒ de míngzi shì Roy, or, 我叫Roy。 Wǒ jiào Roy (I'm called Roy).
Yes, if you're interested in learning the characters, it's best to start learning them from the beginning. Keep up the good work! 👍
Let us know if you have any questions.
Ngai
Team ChineseClass101.com
Hello Maxx Black,
Thanks for taking the time to post.
We're glad to have you with us! 👍
Looking forward to seeing you often here.😊
Best,
Ali
Team ChineseClass101.com
My name is Roy. How would I say that in Chinese?
Pinyin and hanzi. Im learning all 3, reading, writing and speaking. It is a lot.
😄
你好 Beatriz！
谢谢 for commenting. Thank you for your kind feedback, we are very happy to hear you found our lessons useful.
For similar audio lessons, you can check out all the other lessons in this same video series: https://www.chineseclass101.com/lesson-library/top-25-chinese-questions-you-need-to-know/
Let us know if you have any more questions.
Kind regards,
雷文特 (Levente)
Team ChineseClass101.com
Hola. Muchas gracias por las lecciones son muy efectivas. ¿Me puede recomendar más audios o vídeos con formato parecido a estas lecciones? Gracias
Hello Andy,
Thank you for your comment. 叫 jiào means to be called, it's used to indicate what someone or something is called. 是 shì is the verb to be. When used in introductions, the meaning is the same. You can use either one of them.
Other examples:
这个地方叫中国。Zhège dìfāng jiào Zhōngguó. This place is called China.
他是老师。Tā shì lǎoshī. He is a teacher.
Hope it helps, let us know if you have any questions.
Ngai Lam
Team ChineseClass101.com
你好 robert groulx,
谢谢 for posting and studying with us. If you have any questions, please let us know.😄
Kind regards,
Levente
Team ChineseClass101.com
hank you for the lesson
wo jiao robert
robert
thank you for the lesson
robert
thank you
robert
Hello 卡米拉,
你好！很高兴认识你！Well done! 😄
Thank you for learning with us, let us know if you have any questions.
Ngai Lam
Team ChineseClass101.com
你好!
我叫 卡米拉
我是 马来西亚人
Hello Rob Green,
你好！Yes you did post a comment on another lesson. 😄 Your Chinese name can be 罗伯特 (luó bó tè) 格林 (gé lín), it's a widely accepted translation.
Thank you for learning with us, let us know if you have any questions.
Ngai Lam
Team ChineseClass101.com
I'm sure I posted here!?!? What? I was wondering what my name would be please? My name: "Robert" means "bright/wondering star" and my second name is green like the colour!? Thanks :)
Hello Jenna,
你好！Thank you for your comment. Your Chinese name can be 珍娜 (zhēn nà), it's a transliteration.
Thank you for learning with us, let us know if you have any questions.
Ngai Lam
Team ChineseClass101.com
你好！My name is Jenna. How do you spell that in Chinese?
Hello Jasmine,
你好！Thank you for your comment. Your Chinese name can be 贾思敏 (jiǎ sī mǐn), it's a transliteration. 贾 can be a Chinese surname, 思 can mean thoughts, ideas, 敏 means smart, keen.
Thank you for learning with us, let us know if you have any questions.
Ngai Lam
Team ChineseClass101.com
Hi my name is Jasmine. What’s my Chinese name? And could you tell me the meaning of the Chinese words? Thank you!
I my name is Jasmine. What’s my Chinese name? And could you tell me the meaning of the Chinese words? Thank you.