guìxìng: 贵姓 - (Your) Honorable Surname

• Keywords: guixing, 贵姓, what is your name in Chinese, how to ask for name Chinese, polite way to ask name Chinese, 您贵姓, honorable surname, expensive surname meaning, Chinese etiquette, how to be polite in Chinese.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 贵姓 (guìxìng), a fundamental phrase in Chinese for politely asking someone's surname. More than just a question, it's a powerful display of respect and cultural awareness, literally meaning “(your) honorable surname.” This page will break down why using 贵姓 (guìxìng) is crucial in formal situations, how to use it correctly in conversation, and how to respond appropriately to avoid common mistakes made by learners. Mastering this term is a key step towards sounding more natural and respectful in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guìxìng
• Part of Speech: Noun (used within a verbal phrase)
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: An honorific term used to respectfully ask for a person's surname.
• In a Nutshell: 贵姓 (guìxìng) is the standard, polite formula for asking for the last name of someone you've just met, especially if they are older, a business contact, or someone you wish to show deference to. It literally combines “noble/valuable” (贵) with “surname” (姓). Using this phrase instead of a more direct question immediately establishes a respectful and polite tone, making it essential for first impressions in formal and professional settings.

• 贵 (guì): This character's primary meaning is “expensive” or “valuable.” In this context, it functions as an honorific prefix, elevating the following noun. Think of it as meaning “noble” or “honorable.” It shows you value the other person and their family lineage.
• 姓 (xìng): This character simply means “surname” or “family name.” It is composed of the radicals for “woman” (女) and “birth” (生), reflecting a historical theory that the earliest family names in China were passed down through the maternal line.

When combined, 贵姓 (guìxìng) literally means “noble surname.” When you ask, “您贵姓？” you are asking, “What is your honorable surname?”

• The Importance of Surnames: In Chinese culture, a surname (姓) is not just a label; it is a direct link to one's ancestry, lineage, and family history. It carries significant cultural weight. Showing respect for someone's surname is, by extension, showing respect for their entire family and heritage.
• Comparison to Western Culture: In English, asking “What's your last name?” is a neutral, information-gathering question. The Chinese equivalent, “您贵姓？ (Nín guìxìng?),” is fundamentally different. It is a social ritual designed to establish a respectful relationship. The use of the honorific 贵 (guì) and the formal “you” 您 (nín) are not optional elements; they are the core of the phrase's function, which is to give face (给面子, gěi miànzi) to the other person. The act of asking politely is as important as the answer itself.
• Related Values: This practice is deeply rooted in Confucian values that emphasize social hierarchy, respect for elders, and the maintenance of social harmony. Using 贵姓 demonstrates humility and proper etiquette.

贵姓 is reserved for specific, non-casual situations. Using it incorrectly can make you sound strange or distant.

• Formal and Professional Settings: This is the default phrase to use when meeting a new client, a business partner, a professor, a government official, or a customer. It's a sign of professionalism.
• Showing Respect to Elders: When meeting an older person for the first time, using 您贵姓？ is a mandatory sign of respect.
• The Classic Question-Answer Pattern: The most common exchange is:
  • Question: 请问，您贵姓？ (Qǐngwèn, nín guìxìng?) - May I ask, what is your honorable surname?
  • Answer: 免贵姓王。 (Miǎn guì xìng Wáng.) - My humble surname is Wang. (Literally: “Dispense with the 'honorable', my surname is Wang.”)

While the 免贵 (miǎn guì) response is traditional and very polite, many people in modern China will simply respond with 我姓王 (Wǒ xìng Wáng), which is still polite but slightly less formal.

• Example 1:
  • 先生，您贵姓？
  • Pinyin: Xiānsheng, nín guìxìng?
  • English: Sir, what is your (honorable) surname?
  • Analysis: This is the most classic and common way to ask the question. It's polite, direct, and universally understood in formal contexts.
• Example 2:
  • 免贵姓李，叫我小李就行了。
  • Pinyin: Miǎn guì xìng Lǐ, jiào wǒ xiǎo Lǐ jiù xíng le.
  • English: My humble surname is Li, you can just call me Little Li.
  • Analysis: This is a standard, humble, and friendly response. 免贵 (miǎn guì) literally means “exempt from noble,” a formulaic way to show humility.
• Example 3:
  • 请问，这位女士贵姓？
  • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, zhè wèi nǚshì guìxìng?
  • English: Excuse me, what is this lady's (honorable) surname?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to ask for a third person's surname politely. 请问 (qǐngwèn) adds an extra layer of politeness.
• Example 4:
  • 我姓张。不知您贵姓？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xìng Zhāng. Bù zhī nín guìxìng?
  • English: My surname is Zhang. I don't know your (honorable) surname?
  • Analysis: A very smooth way to ask. You offer your own name first, which builds rapport, before politely inquiring about theirs.
• Example 5:
  • 在我们公司，见到客户先问贵姓是基本礼仪。
  • Pinyin: Zài wǒmen gōngsī, jiàndào kèhù xiān wèn guìxìng shì jīběn lǐyí.
  • English: In our company, asking for a client's honorable surname upon meeting them is basic etiquette.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses 贵姓 as a noun concept, explaining its role in a business context.
• Example 6:
  • A: 您贵姓？ B: 我姓陈。
  • Pinyin: A: Nín guìxìng? B: Wǒ xìng Chén.
  • English: A: What's your honorable surname? B: My surname is Chen.
  • Analysis: This shows the more modern, slightly less formal (but still perfectly polite) response that omits 免贵 (miǎn guì).
• Example 7:
  • 为了方便称呼，可以告诉我您的贵姓吗？
  • Pinyin: Wèile fāngbiàn chēnghu, kěyǐ gàosù wǒ nín de guìxìng ma?
  • English: So that it's more convenient to address you, could you tell me your (honorable) surname?
  • Analysis: A softer, more roundabout way of asking. It's very polite and explains the reason for asking.
• Example 8:
  • 很抱歉，我忘了您的贵姓。
  • Pinyin: Hěn bàoqiàn, wǒ wàngle nín de guìxìng.
  • English: I'm very sorry, I've forgotten your (honorable) surname.
  • Analysis: Even when admitting you've forgotten, using 贵姓 maintains a high level of respect and politeness.
• Example 9:
  • A: 你好，我找王经理。 B: 我们这里有好几位王经理，请问他贵姓大名？
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ hǎo, wǒ zhǎo Wáng jīnglǐ. B: Wǒmen zhèlǐ yǒu hǎojǐ wèi Wáng jīnglǐ, qǐngwèn tā guìxìng dàmíng?
  • English: A: Hello, I'm looking for Manager Wang. B: We have several managers named Wang here, may I ask for his honorable full name?
  • Analysis: Here, 贵姓 is combined with 大名 (dàmíng), another honorific term for “given name,” to ask for the full name politely.
• Example 10:
  • 他是新来的同事，我还不知道他贵姓呢。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì xīn lái de tóngshì, wǒ hái bù zhīdào tā guìxìng ne.
  • English: He's the new colleague, I don't even know his (honorable) surname yet.
  • Analysis: Shows how the term can be used in a statement about not knowing someone's name, implying a formal distance still exists between the speakers.

• CRITICAL MISTAKE: Answering with “我贵姓…“
  • Incorrect: A: 您贵姓？ B: 我贵姓王 (Wǒ guìxìng Wáng).
  • Reason: This is the most common and significant error. By saying “我贵姓,” you are saying “My honorable surname is Wang,” which sounds arrogant and is grammatically incorrect. The honorific 贵 (guì) is only used when asking about the other person.
  • Correct Way: Respond with 我姓王 (Wǒ xìng Wáng) or 免贵姓王 (Miǎn guì xìng Wáng).
• Mistake 2: Using it in Casual Situations.
  • Incorrect: (To a classmate you know well) 喂，你贵姓？ (Wèi, nǐ guìxìng?)
  • Reason: This is socially awkward. It creates a strange, formal distance between friends. It's like putting on a tuxedo to go to a casual barbecue.
  • Correct Way: For friends, peers, or children, use the informal 你姓什么？ (Nǐ xìng shénme?) or, more commonly, 你叫什么名字？ (Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?).
• Mistake 3: Confusing 贵姓 (guìxìng) with 名字 (míngzi).
  • 贵姓 specifically and only asks for the surname (family name).
  • 名字 (míngzi) asks for the name (which can mean full name or, more often, the given name). Asking 你叫什么名字？ is the general, informal way to ask “What's your name?”.

• 您 (nín): The formal and polite version of “you.” It is the required pronoun to use with 贵姓.
• 姓 (xìng): The base word for “surname.”
• 名字 (míngzi): “Name” (usually given name). The informal counterpart to the question of identity.
• 姓名 (xìngmíng): “Full name” (surname + given name). A more formal term often seen on official documents.
• 免贵 (miǎn guì): “Dispense with the honorific.” The classic, humble response to 您贵姓.
• 称呼 (chēnghu): “To address (someone)”; “a form of address.” The reason you ask for someone's name is to know how to 称呼 them.
• 请问 (qǐngwèn): “May I ask…?” A common polite phrase used to preface questions, including a request for someone's name.
• 面子 (miànzi): The concept of “face,” prestige, or social standing. Using 贵姓 is a way of giving someone 面子.
• 大名 (dàmíng): “Great name.” An honorific way to refer to someone's given name, often used in the phrase 贵姓大名 (guìxìng dàmíng) to ask for a full name politely.