Chinese word

贵姓

Pronunciation

Pinyinguì xìng

Meaning

  • nounlast name

Example

能告诉我贵姓吗？néng gào sù wǒ guì xìng ma

Can you tell me your last name?

Illustration for 贵姓 (last name)

More examples

第一次见面，我会说：'请问您贵姓？'dì yí cì jiàn miàn wǒ huì shuō qǐng wèn nín guì xìng

When we meet for the first time, I say, "May I ask your last name?"

Core concept

A courteous question that brings a person's family identity into the conversation.

Common phrases

  • 请问您贵姓？qǐng wèn nín guì xìng

    May I ask your last name

  • 初次见面，请问贵姓？chū cì jiàn miàn qǐng wèn guì xìng

    When meeting for the first time, may I ask your last name

Similar words

姓xìng: The name shared by members of a family.
名字míng zì: An everyday term for a person's name, which can mean a family name or given name.
姓名xìng míng: The full personal name formed by a family name and a given name.
姓氏xìng shì: A written term for the family name carried through generations.

Definition in Chinese

用作向别人客气询问姓氏的固定说法，常见的问句为“请问您贵姓？”等。yòng zuò xiàng bié rén kè qì xún wèn xìng shì de gù dìng shuō fǎ cháng jiàn de wèn jù wèi qǐng wèn nín guì xìng děng

Word origin

贵 (guì, "honorable") + 姓 (xìng, "family name") combines a respect marker with the word for family name to form a polite question about someone's surname.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this fixed expression sounds formal and courteous, making it suitable for introductions and respectful encounters rather than relaxed talk among peers.

Other meanings

  • namenoun

Word lists with this word