Chinese word

昵称

Pronunciation

Pinyinnì chēng

Meaning

  • nounnickname

Example

你的昵称是什么？nǐ de nì chēng shì shén me

What is your nickname?

Illustration for 昵称 (nickname)

More examples

我忘记了我的昵称，怎么办？wǒ wàng jì le wǒ de nì chēng zěn me bàn

I forgot my nickname. What should I do?

Core concept

A convenient, informal name that makes a person easier to address or recognize in a familiar setting.

Common phrases

  • 我的昵称wǒ de nì chēng

    my nickname

  • 忘记昵称wàng jì nì chēng

    forget one's nickname

Similar words

外号wài hào: An unofficial name used by people around a person.
网名wǎng míng: A display name used to identify someone on the internet.
绰号chuò hào: A nickname given for a person's noticeable trait or reputation.

Definition in Chinese

用于表示亲近或方便称呼的非正式名字。yòng yú biǎo shì qīn jìn huò fāng biàn chēng hū de fēi zhèng shì míng zì

Word origin

The compound 昵称 (nìchēng, "nickname") joins 昵 (nì, "close or intimate") and 称 (chēng, "name or call"), giving the idea of a name used with familiarity rather than formality.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Chinese, a user's chosen name on a social platform or game is also a 昵称 (nìchēng, "nickname"), so the word covers online identities as well as familiar names used in person.

Other meanings

  • pet namenoun
  • screen namenoun

Opposites

  • 真实姓名zhēn shí xìng míngreal namenoun

Word lists with this word