surname; family name
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
surname; family name; clan designation
formalIn ancient times, '姓' (xìng) originated from the matrilineal line and '氏' (shì) from the patrilineal line, but in modern usage, the term '姓氏' specifically refers to the surname or family name passed down patrilineally.
Qǐng请
wèn问
nín您
de的
xìng姓
shì氏
shì是
shén什
me么
？
May I ask what your surname is?
Zài在
zhōng中
guó国
，
xìng姓
shì氏
tōng通
cháng常
xiě写
zài在
míng名
zì字
de的
qián前
miàn面
。
In China, the surname is usually written before the given name.
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Tā他
de的
xìng姓
shì氏
hěn很
hǎn罕
jiàn见
。
His surname is very rare.
Yán研
jiū究
xìng姓
shì氏
de的
qǐ起
yuán源
shì是
yī一
mén门
xué学
wèn问
。
Studying the origins of surnames is a field of study.