xìngmíng: 姓名 - Name, Full Name

• Keywords: 姓名, xìngmíng, Chinese name, full name in Chinese, family name, given name, surname, what is your name in Chinese, 名字, xingming meaning, Chinese culture names
• Summary: The Chinese word 姓名 (xìngmíng) refers to a person's full name. Composed of the characters for family name (姓, xìng) and given name (名, míng), its structure reveals a core cultural value: the family name always comes first. This guide breaks down the meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage of 姓名 for learners of Chinese, explaining how to properly ask for and state names in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xìngmíng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A person's full name, comprising both the family name and the given name.
• In a Nutshell: 姓名 is the standard and slightly formal word for “full name.” Think of it as the label for the “Name” blank on any official form. Crucially, it reflects the Chinese name structure where the family name (姓) precedes the personal, given name (名). So for a name like 张伟 (Zhāng Wěi), 张 is the 姓 and 伟 is the 名.

• 姓 (xìng): This character means “family name” or “surname.” It's a combination of 女 (nǚ), meaning “woman,” and 生 (shēng), meaning “to be born.” This points to ancient matriarchal societies where lineage was traced through the mother's side.
• 名 (míng): This character means “name” or “given name.” It's composed of 夕 (xī), meaning “evening,” and 口 (kǒu), meaning “mouth.” The ancient logic is that after dark, when you couldn't see someone's face, you had to call out with your mouth (口) to identify them by their name.

These two characters combine to form 姓名 (xìngmíng), literally “family name-given name,” perfectly describing the structure and components of a full Chinese name.

The structure of 姓名 is a direct reflection of traditional Chinese cultural values, particularly the emphasis on family and collectivism.

• Family First, Individual Second: In Chinese culture, an individual is seen first and foremost as a member of a family and a lineage. Placing the family name (姓) first signifies that one's family identity is primary, while the individual given name (名) is secondary. This contrasts sharply with the standard Western structure (“First Name, Last Name”), which places the individual first. For example, the famous basketball player is known as Yao Ming, not Ming Yao, because Yao is his family identity.
• Comparison to the West: While an American might say “My name is John Smith,” a Chinese person would say “我叫张伟 (Wǒ jiào Zhāng Wěi).” The cultural default is different. In formal English contexts, we sometimes use “Last Name, First Name” (e.g., “Smith, John” on a class roster), but this is a specific format. In Chinese, “Family Name + Given Name” is the default, universal structure. This simple linguistic feature is a window into the collectivist-vs-individualist cultural difference.

姓名 is a common but slightly formal term. You use it when talking about the *concept* of a full name or when filling out official information.

• On Forms and Documents: This is the most common place you'll see 姓名. Any application, registration form, or official document will have a field labeled 姓名 where you must write your full name.
• Formal Introductions: When asking for someone's name in a formal or polite context, you might use a structure that elicits their 姓名. The most polite way is to ask for the surname first: “请问您贵姓？ (Qǐngwèn nín guìxìng?)” - “May I ask your honorable surname?” After they reply, you could follow up with “那您全名是？ (Nà nín quánmíng shì?)” - “And your full name is?” to get the full 姓名.
• Referring to the Concept: You use 姓名 when discussing names in general. For example: “It's important to write your full name clearly.” (把姓名写清楚很重要。)

It is less common to use the word 姓名 itself in a casual question like “What's your name?”. For that, you would typically use 名字 (míngzi), as in “你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)”.

• Example 1:
  • 请在这里填写您的姓名和地址。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng zài zhèlǐ tiánxiě nín de xìngmíng hé dìzhǐ.
  • English: Please fill in your full name and address here.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of how 姓名 is used on forms and in official instructions.
• Example 2:
  • 他的姓名很特别，我从来没听过。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xìngmíng hěn tèbié, wǒ cónglái méi tīngguò.
  • English: His full name is very unique; I've never heard it before.
  • Analysis: Here, 姓名 is used to refer to the concept of someone's entire name.
• Example 3:
  • 老师正在念学生姓名，准备上课。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī zhèngzài niàn xuéshēng xìngmíng, zhǔnbèi shàngkè.
  • English: The teacher is reading the students' full names, getting ready for class.
  • Analysis: This shows a typical roll-call situation in a formal setting like a school.
• Example 4:
  • 为了保护隐私，快递单上我只用了一个假姓名。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bǎohù yǐnsī, kuàidì dān shàng wǒ zhǐ yòngle yīgè jiǎ xìngmíng.
  • English: To protect my privacy, I only used a fake name on the delivery slip.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates that 姓名 can be modified by adjectives like “fake” (假).
• Example 5:
  • 你知道这个汉字的姓名和来源吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zhège Hànzì de xìngmíng hé láiyuán ma?
  • English: Do you know the “name” and origin of this Chinese character?
  • Analysis: A metaphorical use. Here, 姓名 is creatively used to mean the “identity” or “name” of a character, not a person.
• Example 6:
  • 很多中国人的姓名都包含了父母的期望。
  • Pinyin: Hěnduō Zhōngguó rén de xìngmíng dōu bāohánle fùmǔ de qīwàng.
  • English: Many Chinese people's full names contain their parents' hopes and expectations.
  • Analysis: This sentence touches upon the cultural significance of names in China.
• Example 7:
  • 在中国，你的姓名顺序是姓在前，名在后。
  • Pinyin: Zài Zhōngguó, nǐ de xìngmíng shùnxù shì xìng zài qián, míng zài hòu.
  • English: In China, the order of your full name is family name first, given name second.
  • Analysis: A perfect sentence for explaining the core concept of a Chinese name's structure.
• Example 8:
  • 身份证上必须显示你的真实姓名。
  • Pinyin: Shēnfènzhèng shàng bìxū xiǎnshì nǐ de zhēnshí xìngmíng.
  • English: Your real name must be displayed on your ID card.
  • Analysis: Highlights the official and legal nature of the term 姓名.
• Example 9:
  • 他忘了那个作者的姓名，只记得书名。
  • Pinyin: Tā wàngle nàge zuòzhě de xìngmíng, zhǐ jìde shūmíng.
  • English: He forgot that author's full name, he only remembers the book title.
  • Analysis: A simple, everyday example of using 姓名 to refer to a person's complete name.
• Example 10:
  • 给孩子取姓名是一件非常重要的事情。
  • Pinyin: Gěi háizi qǔ xìngmíng shì yī jiàn fēicháng zhòngyào de shìqíng.
  • English: Choosing a full name for a child is a very important matter.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses “取姓名” (qǔ xìngmíng), a common collocation meaning “to choose/give a name.”

• 姓名 (xìngmíng) vs. 名字 (míngzi): This is a key distinction.
  • 姓名 (xìngmíng) specifically means full name (family name + given name). It's more formal.
  • 名字 (míngzi) is more flexible. It can mean “full name” in a casual context (e.g., in “你叫什么名字？”), but it can also mean just the “given name.” If you ask someone “你的名字是什么？” they might tell you their full name or just their given name. 姓名 leaves no ambiguity.
  • Incorrect: “请在表格上写下你的名字。” (This is understandable but less precise.)
  • Correct: “请在表格上写下你的姓名。” (This is the standard, correct way.)
• The Order Mistake: The most common mistake for English speakers is stating their name in the Western order. If your name is “Sarah Johnson,” you cannot say your 姓名 is “Sarah Johnson” in a Chinese context.
  • Incorrect: 我叫 Sarah Johnson (Wǒ jiào Sarah Johnson).
  • Correct (transliterated): 我叫约翰逊·莎拉 (Wǒ jiào Yuēhànxùn Shālā). The family name, Johnson (约翰逊), comes first.
• Answering the Question: When asked for your 姓名, you must provide your full name. If you only give your first name, it will be considered an incomplete answer, especially in a formal setting.

• 名字 (míngzi) - The general, more casual word for “name,” which can mean either full name or given name.
• 姓 (xìng) - The character for surname/family name itself.
• 名 (míng) - The character for given name/first name itself.
• 全名 (quánmíng) - A synonym for 姓名, literally “entire name.” It is slightly more literal and less common on forms than 姓名.
• 贵姓 (guìxìng) - A polite term used in the question “您贵姓？” (Nín guìxìng?), meaning “your honorable surname?” You should never refer to your own surname as 贵姓.
• 称呼 (chēnghu) - A title or form of address (e.g., 老师/lǎoshī, 先生/xiānsheng). It's about how to address someone, not what their name is.
• 外号 (wàihào) - Nickname, often given by friends and can be playful or teasing.
• 小名 (xiǎomíng) - A “small name” or pet name, typically used by close family for a child.
• 笔名 (bǐmíng) - A pen name or pseudonym used by an author.
• 大名 (dàmíng) - A “big name” or official registered name, used to contrast with a 小名 (childhood name) or 外号 (nickname).