single-character surname
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
single-character surname (as opposed to compound surname)
Refers to surnames consisting of one character (e.g., 张, 王, 李), contrasting with compound surnames (复姓) like 欧阳 or 司马.
Zhāng张
、
Wáng王
、
Lǐ李
、
Zhào赵
dōu都
shì是
Zhōng中
guó国
zuì最
cháng常
jiàn见
de的
dān单
xìng姓
。
Zhang, Wang, Li, and Zhao are the most common single-character surnames in China.
Zhōng中
guó国
rén人
dà大
duō多
shù数
shǐ使
yòng用
dān单
xìng姓
，
zhǐ只
yǒu有
shǎo少
shù数
fù复
xìng姓
。
Most Chinese people use single-character surnames, with only a small number using compound surnames.
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Ōu欧
yáng阳
shì是
fù复
xìng姓
，
bù不
shì是
dān单
xìng姓
。
Ouyang is a compound surname, not a single-character surname.
Dān单
xìng姓
hé和
fù复
xìng姓
zài在
hù户
jí籍
dēng登
jì记
shí时
de的
tián填
xiě写
fāng方
shì式
bù不
tóng同
。
Single-character and compound surnames are filled out differently on household registration forms.