Chinese Video Courses >> Beginner Chinese Series 1 >> What's your surname (honorific)?

What's your surname (honorific)?

Lesson Information
Instructor:  Becky
Length:  24:50
Introduction:  Learn expressions to show respect when inquiring about someone’s surnames and names
 
Spread the Word
Click here to share with your friends!
Do you have any questions about the exercises?
Sign up for a free 30-minute 1-to-1 lesson below (first-time user* only):
Sign up for a free trial (1-to-1) now!
Get more information about our Chinese lessons through live chat
Get a FREE live 1-to-1 lesson. Complete the form below:
Name:
E-mail:
Country/Region:
-select-

search no result

Tel:
By clicking Submit, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Your email address and phone number
will be kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.
*First-time user is defined as someone who has never taken a free 1-to-1 lesson with us.
Discussion
How should you address others in Chinese? When speaking Chinese, people usually show respect when asking about others’ Chinese surnames. How? Simply add a “心 (xīn) heart” under “你 (nǐ)" to make “您 (nín)”. This is an honorific form. In other words, Chinese people show respect by placing “you” in their “hearts.” In addition to this, learn Chinese language phrases such as my surname is..., sir and miss. Finally, you can also gain background knowledge about Chinese culture through our note on One Hundred Chinese Surnames Primer.


Comments
anytoursmaldives@live.co says
chinese is very interesting for me
March 7, 2011 Reply
403246175 in reply to anytoursmaldives@live.co
中国很喜欢你的到来
April 8, 2011 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to 403246175
Hi 403246175. In Chinese, this sentence is grammatically incorrect. You can say “中国很欢迎你的到来(Zhōngguó hěn huānyíng nǐ de dào lái.),” which means “warmly welcome to China.”
April 29, 2011 Reply
chegomez in reply to Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher)
how can i say how are you in chinese ?
May 24, 2011 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to chegomez
Hello Chegomez,
For “how are you” in Chinese, you can say: “你好吗?(Nǐ hǎo ma?).”
May 24, 2011 Reply
Abdul Samad in reply to anytoursmaldives@live.co
I like chinese language b/c chinese language is one of the best langauage in the world






January 16, 2012 Reply
GGBaliki says
how do you say yes in chinese?
May 25, 2011 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to GGBaliki
Hi GGBaliki,
For “yes” in Chinese, you can say “是 (shì)” or “是的 (shì de).”
For example:
---你高兴吗?(Nǐ gāoxìng ma?) Are you happy?
---是的,我很高兴。(Shì de, wǒ hěn gāoxìng.) Yes, I’m very happy.
May 25, 2011 Reply
GGBaliki in reply to Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher)
thx
May 27, 2011 Reply
aimme_miller says
Very nice... i like the way you teach... xie xie ni!
October 27, 2011 Reply
Ellie_Chinese teacher in reply to aimme_miller
Hi aimme_miller, you are welcome and thanks for enjoying the video. How long have you studied Chinese? And what kind of topic do you like to learn? Just feel free to let me know. :)
November 1, 2011 Reply
petitpiedfrancis in reply to Ellie_Chinese teacher
nihao wo hen giaxing ni.i am very happy to learn cinese mervellous langrage since two hours
please write to petitpiedfrancis@gmail.com.
Iam very honnest and trustworthy thanks to THE HIGHEST  SHIVA  GOD FATHER
January 24, 2012 Reply
moana1520 says
well done becky!!! you are awesome!!! xie xie!!
November 6, 2011 Reply
Becky_Chinese Teacher in reply to moana1520
Hi, moana1520. :) xiè xiè :D and thanks for enjoying the video. And what kind of topic  you want to learn? Just feel free to let me know:) And I will try my best to show you more good videos. :) 
November 9, 2011 Reply
stepsloverz says
I just signing up and after I watch all the beginner's video, I realize I already learned it this past few months. What's the next level of beginner? I want to proceed but wondering if I can watch it for free or not? o.O"
November 10, 2011 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to stepsloverz
Dear stepsloverz,
Thank you for your message. I am so glad that you have finished all the beginner’s videos. We have updated with new video lessons in different levels. If you are interested in learning real Chinese spoken by the locals, you can take a look at the Day Day Up program. If you are interested in various language points (grammar, etc.), please take a look at our Crazy Grammar program. 

Since you have started your 7-Day free trial, you can access ALL the Chinese video courses for free for 7 days. After the free trail, if you decide to learn Chinese with us, just feel free to start a new membership and become a paying member of eChineseOnline.

Hope you enjoy our service.

November 10, 2011 Reply
stepsloverz in reply to Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher)
~OH thank you :) Will watch all the video this week and decide for membership after it. Thanks for the reply :)
November 10, 2011 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to stepsloverz
You’re welcome. :)
I’m so glad that I can help you.
If you have any questions, just feel free to let me know.


November 10, 2011 Reply
petitpiedfrancis in reply to Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher)
best happy chinese new year for you helene zhiang
multimillions times fortunate healthy happy youth beauty.
I really wish to learn that marvellous language chinese.
I love so much chinese   giaxotce  nihao wo then giaoxing ni   . learning chinese since two hours now
thanks to your high first class quality courses.
January 24, 2012 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to petitpiedfrancis
Hi petitpiedfrancis,
Best wishes to you too. I’m glad that you love our video lessons. We are making new video lessons. Just stay in tune with us!
Any questions, just feel free to let me know.
January 29, 2012 Reply
eddie says
謝謝你 Yin 小姐 ! 你的交 很好。I did have a great time and chance to review my Chinese. Once again thx...
November 17, 2011 Reply
Becky_Chinese Teacher in reply to eddie
Eddie, Nǐ hǎo!
不客氣。And thank you for enjoying our video. For this sentence "你的交 很好。" You should say: "你教得很好。(Nǐ jiāo de hěn hǎo.)" The Chinese character for "to teach" is "教." :)
If you want to describe a result or quality of an action, you can use this sentence structure: 
"Subject+verb+得+your complement." So, the sentence "你教得很好。" follows this structure.
You may follow our CRAZY GRAMMAR and DAY DAY UP shows to review and learn more Chinese language points and topics. And just feel free to let me know if there is any topic you want to learn about.
November 18, 2011 Reply
Mickey says
I am trying to answer some of the exercise problems, but in order to write the words I need to use tone marks. How do I do this?

Thanks!
Mickey
December 13, 2011 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to Mickey
Hey Mickey,

I’m glad you’re getting some use out of the exercises. In order to add tone marks, first type the Pinyin of a word followed by a 1, 2, 3, or 4 (to represent the necessary tone) directly after the word. After that, click the “Convert to Tone Marks” button on the exercise tab. 
For example:
If you want to use “yǒu,” first type “you3,” then click “Convert to Tone Marks.” “You3” will be converted to “yǒu.” For neutral tones, you can just type the words by themselves, as they don’t require any marks.

Good luck on the problems and let me know if you have any other questions. 
December 13, 2011 Reply
HaidaTakarai says
This is so helpful! I had some doubts before this lesson that now I can understand better. Xièxiè!

February 22, 2012 Reply
Becky_Chinese Teacher in reply to HaidaTakarai
You are welcome. I am so happy that we can help you. :) If you have any question or any topic you want to learn, just feel free to let me know. :)
February 22, 2012 Reply
HaidaTakarai in reply to Becky_Chinese Teacher
Thank you! You're to kind! :3
February 25, 2012 Reply
Becky_Chinese Teacher in reply to HaidaTakarai
You are welcome! :)
February 27, 2012 Reply
Ashin Revata says
now what shall I do? I do nothing.
March 8, 2012 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to Ashin Revata
Hi Ashin Revata,
Is there anything that I can help you with? Please feel free to let me know.
March 16, 2012 Reply
isaque amorim says
hello Becky l'am from brasil,but l' live  u.s.a 
tks for teacher mi
l'have friends chinese 
but she neve see ...about china well
one see tks, for you good teocher

March 26, 2012 Reply
Becky_Chinese Teacher in reply to isaque amorim
LoL! Thank you very much. Do you usually chat with your Chinese friends online? 
March 30, 2012 Reply
HaidaTakarai says
大家好! I'm so happy to be back again to my lessons. I had to stop for a while but Its good to comeback and have a review.

Now I have a Chinese Friend and I can practice more :D 我太高兴了! I want to keep learning :D
October 19, 2013 Reply
Becky_Chinese Teacher in reply to HaidaTakarai
Hi Haida Takarai,
你好! Welcome back! We have a Free Excercises channel now. Click "Free Exercises" on top of this page, or go to 
http://www.dongyu.com/practice-chinese/all-levels 
to practice your Chinese.
October 21, 2013 Reply
jlee317 says
The website DOESN'T LET cancel my 7 days free trials. 
Even though I complete cancellation, my membership is ACTIVE!! It looks like it forces me to pay. 
Please provide me detailed step by step to cancel the 7 days free trials. Thank you
July 19, 2015 Reply
Helen Zhang (Chinese Teacher) in reply to jlee317
Hi Jlee317,
You membership was cancelled just as you asked, effective on July 19, 2015 (Beijing Time). We hope you enjoyed the service and we'd love to have you back someday. If you have any more questions, please feel free to let me know. 
July 20, 2015 Reply
umiriyt13@gmail.com says
this is fun
August 27, 2015 Reply
mingxing124 says
I want to become a member of echineseonline. But in VietNam, at time, from 7 o'clock to 17 o'clock every day, i don't have free time. So i can't create a visa card. So can i pay by ATM card of VietNam. Such as Vietcombank or Techcombank...
November 23, 2015 Reply
Lisa_eChineseOnline Support in reply to mingxing124
Hi Mingxing124,

Happy to know that you want to join us. You can make the payment by remitting the membership fee. I have sent you an email to let you know the details. Please check your email. :)
November 27, 2015 Reply
Muhammad Irfan says
ni hao laoshi
August 25, 2017 Reply
Join the Discussion
Add your comment below (you need to sign in first or sign up to comment):
Upload File (Audio/image files only. Maximum audio size 2MB, maximum image size 150KB.) Details