Chinese family names are placed first, followed by the given name. For instance, in the name ‘Zhao Li,’ ‘Zhao’ is the family name, ‘Li’ the given name. Family names usually consist of one character, whereas given names can have either one or two characters.
Chinese people call their close friends and family members by their given names.
For example, ‘Ma Wenli’ may be addressed by close friends as ‘Wenli.’
FACE TO FACE
你叫什么名字?nĭ jiào shén-me míng-zi?What’s your name?
我叫…wŏ jiào…My name is…
你是哪里人?nĭ shì nă-li rén?Where are you from?
我是英国人, 我来自伦敦wŏ shì yīng-guó-rén, wŏ lái zì lún-dūnI am English, from London
很高兴认识你！hĕn gāo-xìng rèn-shi nĭ!Pleased to meet you!
How old are you?
你多大了?nĭ duō-dà le?
I’m … years old
我 … 岁了wŏ … suì le
England/English
英格兰/英格兰的yīng-gé-lán/yīng-gé-lán de
Scotland/Scottish
苏格兰/苏格兰的sū-gé-lán/sū-gé-lán de
Wales/Welsh
威尔士/威尔士的wēi-ěr-shì/wēi-ěr-shì de
Ireland/Irish
爱尔兰/爱尔兰的ài-ěr-lán/ài-ěr-lán de
USA/American
美国/美国的měi-guó/měi-guó de
Australia/Australian
澳大利亚/澳大利亚的ào-dà-lì-yà/ào-dà-lì-yà de
Where do you live?
你住在哪儿?nĭ zhù-zài năr?
Where do you live? (plural)
你们住在哪儿?nĭ-men zhù-zài năr?
I live in London
我住在伦敦wŏ zhù-zài lún-dūn
We live in Glasgow
我们住在格拉斯哥wŏ-men zhù-zài gé- lā-sī-gē
I’m at school
我在上学wŏ zài shàng-xué
I work
我在工作wŏ zài gōng-zuò
I’m retired
我退休了wŏ tuì-xiū le
I’m…
我…wŏ…
single
单身dān-shēn
married
结婚了jié-hūn le
divorced
离婚了lí-hūn le
I have…
我有…wŏ yŏu…
a boyfriend
一位男朋友yī-wèi nán-péng-you
a girlfriend
一位女朋友yī-wèi nǚ-péng-you
a partner
一位伴侣yī-wèi bàn-lǚ
I have…children
我有 … 孩子wŏ yŏu … hái-zi
I have no children
我没有孩子wŏ méi-yŏu hái-zi
Let me introduce you to my friends
让我把你介绍给我的朋友们ràng wǒ bǎ nǐ jiè-shào gěi wǒ de péng-you-men
I’d like you to meet my husband
我想让你认识一下我 的丈夫wǒ xiǎng ràng nǐ rèn-shi yī-xià wǒ de zhàng-fu
In formal situations you should address Chinese people by their family name or full name and the appropriate courtesy title. Unlike English, professional, social, and family titles always follow the name.
