Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

The equational verb 姓 xìng ‘be family named’ 11.5

是 shì is used to focus on some detail of a situation; for example, the time, place, or participants

in a situation, or the material that something is made from.

他是昨天来的。

他是昨天來的。

Tā shì zuótiān lái de.

It was yesterday that he came. (He came yesterday.)

我是在大学学中文。

我是在大學學中文。

Wǒ shì zài dàxué xué Zhōngwén.

It is at the university where I study Chinese. (I study Chinese at university.)

我的耳环是(用)金子作的。

我的耳環是(用)金子作的。

Wǒ de ěrhuán shì (yòng) jīnzi zuò de.

My earrings are made of gold.

C30.7.1, 37.9, 57.2.4

11.5 The equational verb 姓 xìng ‘be family named’

To tell someone your family name or to indicate the family name of another person, use 姓 xìng.

我姓罗。

我姓羅。

Wǒ xìng Luó.

My family name is Luo.

她姓马。

她姓馬。

Tā xìng Mǎ.

Her family name is Ma.

The negation of 姓 xìng is 不姓 bù xìng.

我不姓李。我姓罗。

我不姓李。我姓羅。

Wǒ bù xìng Lǐ. Wǒ xìng Luó.

My family name isn’t Li. My family name is Luo.

To ask someone’s family name, say:

你姓什么？

你姓甚麼？

Nǐ xìng shénme?

What is your family name?

The very polite way to ask someone’s family name is:

你贵姓？

你貴姓？

Nǐ guì xìng?

(What is) your honorable family name?

C 22