Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== quánmíng: 全名 - Full Name, Complete Name ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** quanming, 全名, what is your full name in Chinese, Chinese for full name, quánmíng meaning, 全名 vs 名字, how to ask for a name in Chinese, formal name Chinese, complete name, surname and given name in Chinese, 姓名. * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and use of **全名 (quánmíng)**, the Chinese word for "full name" or "complete name." This page explains why understanding **全名** is crucial for formal situations in China, how it differs from the more general word **名字 (míngzi)**, and how it reflects Chinese cultural values. Discover how to correctly ask for and state a full name in Chinese, a vital skill for everything from filling out forms to making a great first impression. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** quánmíng * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 3 * **Concise Definition:** A person's full name, including both their surname (family name) and given name. * **In a Nutshell:** **全名 (quánmíng)** is the specific and unambiguous term for your official, legal name. While "name" in English can sometimes be vague ("What's your name?" could be answered with a first name), **全名** leaves no doubt. It refers to the entire name as it would appear on a passport or ID card, typically in the order of Family Name + Given Name. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **全 (quán):** This character means "all," "whole," "entire," or "complete." It represents the totality of something. * **名 (míng):** This character means "name." It's composed of **夕 (xī)**, meaning "dusk," and **口 (kǒu)**, meaning "mouth." The ancient idea is that in the dark of evening, when you can't see someone's face, you have to use your mouth to call out their name. When combined, **全 (quán) + 名 (míng)** literally means "whole name," a perfect and direct description of its meaning. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The concept of a "full name" exists everywhere, but the usage of **全名** highlights a key difference between Chinese and many Western cultures. In Chinese culture, the family name (姓, xìng) comes first, followed by the given name (名, míng). This structure emphasizes the importance of the family and collective group over the individual. Your identity is first tied to your lineage, then to you as a person. In a professional or formal setting, addressing someone by their **全名** (e.g., "张伟 Zhāng Wěi") or by their title and surname (e.g., "张经理 Zhāng Jīnglǐ" - Manager Zhang) is the standard and respectful way to do so. This contrasts with the common Western practice of quickly moving to a first-name basis to establish friendliness. In China, using only a person's given name upon first meeting can be seen as overly familiar, presumptuous, or even disrespectful, especially if they are older or of a higher status. The **全名** acts as a marker of formal, respectful distance. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== You will encounter and need to use **全名** in many common situations: * **Official Paperwork:** This is the most common use. When filling out any form for a bank, visa application, university registration, or hospital visit, the space will ask for your **全名** or the more formal **姓名 (xìngmíng)**. * **Formal Introductions:** When someone is introduced in a business meeting or formal event, their **全名** is often used. "这位是李华" (This is Lǐ Huà). * **Roll Call:** A teacher taking attendance in a classroom will call out the students' **全名**. * **Online Registration:** Creating an account for a service like Taobao, WeChat Pay, or a banking app requires you to enter your real, full legal name (**全名**). * **Distinguishing People:** In an office or class with multiple people who share a surname (e.g., several people with the surname Wang), using the **全名** is necessary for clarity. It is rarely used between friends, family, or close colleagues, who would opt for nicknames, given names, or other familiar forms of address. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 请在这里写下您的**全名**。 * Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ xiěxià nín de **quánmíng**. * English: Please write down your full name here. * Analysis: A very common and standard sentence you'll see on official forms. Note the polite "you" - 您 (nín). * **Example 2:** * 我的**全名**是玛丽·史密斯，中文名字是史美莉。 * Pinyin: Wǒ de **quánmíng** shì Mǎlì·Shǐmìsī, Zhōngwén míngzi shì Shǐ Měilì. * English: My full name is Mary Smith, and my Chinese name is Shi Meili. * Analysis: This shows how a foreigner might explain their name, distinguishing between their legal **全名** and their adopted Chinese name. * **Example 3:** * 为了确认，我能知道您的**全名**吗？ * Pinyin: Wèile quèrèn, wǒ néng zhīdào nín de **quánmíng** ma? * English: For confirmation, may I know your full name? * Analysis: A polite and slightly formal way to ask for someone's full name, for example, over the phone with a customer service agent. * **Example 4:** * 很多人只知道他的艺名，不知道他的**全名**。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō rén zhǐ zhīdào tā de yìmíng, bù zhīdào tā de **quánmíng**. * English: A lot of people only know his stage name, not his full name. * Analysis: This sentence clearly contrasts a public-facing name (艺名, yìmíng) with the official, legal name (**全名**). * **Example 5:** * 老师，王伟是我的**全名**。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī, Wáng Wěi shì wǒ de **quánmíng**. * English: Teacher, Wang Wei is my full name. * Analysis: A student might say this to a teacher, confirming their name as it should be recorded. * **Example 6:** * 注册账号必须使用**全名**。 * Pinyin: Zhùcè zhànghào bìxū shǐyòng **quánmíng**. * English: You must use your full name to register for an account. * Analysis: A direct instruction often seen on websites or apps during the sign-up process. * **Example 7:** * “小刚”是他的小名，他的**全名**叫李刚。 * Pinyin: "Xiǎo Gāng" shì tā de xiǎomíng, tā de **quánmíng** jiào Lǐ Gāng. * English: "Xiao Gang" is his nickname; his full name is Li Gang. * Analysis: This highlights the difference between an informal nickname (小名, xiǎomíng) and the formal **全名**. * **Example 8:** * 虽然我们是同事，但我甚至不知道他的**全名**。 * Pinyin: Suīrán wǒmen shì tóngshì, dàn wǒ shènzhì bù zhīdào tā de **quánmíng**. * English: Even though we are colleagues, I don't even know his full name. * Analysis: This implies a distant or purely professional relationship where only a surname or English name might be used. * **Example 9:** * 请确保机票上的**全名**和护照上的一致。 * Pinyin: Qǐng quèbǎo jīpiào shàng de **quánmíng** hé hùzhào shàng de yīzhì. * English: Please ensure the full name on the plane ticket is identical to the one on your passport. * Analysis: A crucial, practical reminder when booking travel. This is a situation where **全名** is non-negotiable. * **Example 10:** * 他忘了自己学生的**全名**，感觉有点尴尬。 * Pinyin: Tā wàngle zìjǐ xuéshēng de **quánmíng**, gǎnjué yǒudiǎn gāngà. * English: He forgot his own student's full name and felt a bit embarrassed. * Analysis: Shows a social context where knowing someone's **全名** is expected, especially in a position of authority like a teacher. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **`全名 (quánmíng)` vs. `名字 (míngzi)`:** This is the most common point of confusion. * `名字 (míngzi)` is the general word for "name." Asking `你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)` is a friendly, all-purpose way to ask for a name. The answer could be a full name, a first name, or even a nickname. * `全名 (quánmíng)` specifically means the **full, complete name**. Asking for the `全名` is more formal and is used when you explicitly need the surname and given name. You wouldn't ask a new friend for their `全名` at a party; you'd ask for their `名字`. * **Incorrect:** (At a casual party) `你好，你的全名是什么？` (Too formal and clinical). * **Correct:** (At a casual party) `你好，你叫什么名字？` * **Assuming First-Name Basis:** A major cultural mistake is to hear someone's **全名**, like `张伟 (Zhāng Wěi)`, and immediately call them `伟 (Wěi)`. This is too familiar. Stick to using the **全名** or a title and surname until they invite you to use a more casual form of address. * **Name Order:** Always remember the Chinese name order is Family Name -> Given Name. The **全名** of `Zhāng Wěi` is `Zhāng Wěi`, not `Wěi Zhāng`. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[名字]] (míngzi) - The general term for "name." Less formal and specific than `全名`. * [[姓名]] (xìngmíng) - A formal, often written, synonym for `全名`. You'll see `姓名` as the label on forms where you need to write your full name. Literally "surname-name." * [[姓]] (xìng) - Noun: surname, family name. Verb: to be surnamed. * [[名]] (míng) - The given name (the part of a Chinese name that isn't the family name). * [[小名]] (xiǎomíng) - A "milk name" or childhood nickname, used by family and very close friends. * [[外号]] (wàihào) - A nickname, often given by friends and can be playful or teasing. * [[称呼]] (chēnghu) - A verb meaning "to call" or "to address," or a noun meaning "form of address" (e.g., "teacher," "manager," "auntie"). * [[名片]] (míngpiàn) - A business card, which always displays a person's **全名**. * [[贵姓]] (guìxìng) - A very polite and respectful phrase to ask for someone's surname: `请问您贵姓？` (May I ask your honorable surname?).