姓 and 姓氏 refer to a family name or surname.
Words and selected meanings#
| Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning in this context |
|---|---|---|
| 姓 | xìng | family name; surname |
| 姓氏 | xìng shì | family name |
| 名 | míng | name |
A practical way to interpret the context#
Ask a person which part of their name they want used and how to pronounce it. Copy the spelling they provide instead of reconstructing it from an English name or a guessed character. For historical claims about a surname’s origin, ask for a dated source rather than relying on the modern sound of a character.
Scope and source#
This is a vocabulary-based introduction and a set of editorial questions. It does not measure how frequently a practice occurs or describe the beliefs of all Chinese people.
Lexical data adapted from CC-CEDICT contributors, distributed by MDBG, 23 October 2026 release, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses have been selected and shortened. Dictionary release.