Introduce Yourself Simply in Chinese (My name is..., I am from...)

Meeting new people is exciting, and knowing how to introduce yourself is a fundamental social skill in any language. If you're starting to learn Chinese online, mastering these basic introductions – "My name is..." and "I am from..." – is one of the most practical and immediately useful things you can do.

These simple phrases open the door to conversation and show politeness. At Sprachlingua, our online Chinese classes emphasize communicative skills right from the beginning. Let's learn how to make your first Chinese introduction!

1. Saying "Hello" (Quick Recap)

Before introducing yourself, a simple greeting is essential. As covered previously:

你好 (Nǐ hǎo)

Hello / Hi (General Use)

您好 (Nín hǎo)

Hello (Formal / Respectful)

2. "My name is..." - 我叫... (Wǒ jiào...)

This is the most common way to state your name.

我叫 [Your Name].

(Wǒ jiào [Your Name].)

My name is [Your Name]. / I am called [Your Name].

我 (wǒ) means "I". 叫 (jiào) means "to be called". Simply add your name after 叫 (jiào). This works for both first and full names.

Examples:

  • 我叫 David. (Wǒ jiào David.) - My name is David.
  • 我叫 Maria Schmidt. (Wǒ jiào Maria Schmidt.) - My name is Maria Schmidt.

3. Asking "What is your name?"

There are a couple of ways to ask for someone's name, depending on formality.

你叫什么名字？

(Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?)

What is your name? (General/Informal)

This is the standard, common way to ask someone's name. 什么 (shénme) means "what", and 名字 (míngzi) means "name".

您贵姓？

(Nín guìxìng?)

What is your honorable surname? (Formal/Polite)

This is a very polite way to ask, focusing only on the surname (family name). 贵姓 (guìxìng) means "honorable surname." Use this with elders or in very formal situations. The typical answer is just the surname, often preceded by "我姓 (Wǒ xìng)..." - "My surname is...".

4. "I am from..." - 我来自... (Wǒ láizì...)

To say where you come from (your country or city):

我来自 [Place Name].

(Wǒ láizì [Place Name].)

I come from [Place Name]. / I am from [Place Name].

来自 (láizì) means "to come from." Add the name of your country or city after it.

Examples:

  • 我来自美国。 (Wǒ láizì Měiguó.) - I am from America (USA).
  • 我来自德国。 (Wǒ láizì Déguó.) - I am from Germany.
  • 我来自伦敦。 (Wǒ láizì Lúndūn.) - I am from London.

5. Asking "Where are you from?"

你来自哪里？

(Nǐ láizì nǎli?)

Where are you from? (General/Informal)

哪里 (nǎli) means "where." This is the common way to ask someone's origin.

您来自哪里？

(Nín láizì nǎli?)

Where are you from? (Formal/Polite)

Uses the polite 您 (Nín) for added respect.

Optional: Stating Your Nationality

You can also directly state your nationality using:

我是 [Country Name]人。

(Wǒ shì [Country Name] rén.)

I am [Nationality].

是 (shì) means "to be." 人 (rén) means "person." Just insert the country name.

Examples:

  • 我是 美国人。 (Wǒ shì Měiguó rén.) - I am American.
  • 我是 德国人。 (Wǒ shì Déguó rén.) - I am German.
  • 我是 印度人。 (Wǒ shì Yìndù rén.) - I am Indian.

Putting It Together: A Simple Introduction

Now you can combine these for a basic intro:

你好！我叫 [Your Name]. 我来自 [Your Country/City].

(Nǐ hǎo! Wǒ jiào [Your Name]. Wǒ láizì [Your Country/City].)

Hello! My name is [Your Name]. I am from [Your Country/City].

Conclusion: Your First Conversation Steps

Mastering "My name is..." and "I am from..." in Chinese provides you with essential tools for initial interactions. These are core social skills that build rapport and open doors to further conversation.

Remember to practice the pronunciation and tones! Consistent use is key. If you're ready to build on these basics and gain confidence in speaking, consider joining Sprachlingua's engaging and effective online Chinese classes.

Learn More About Our Chinese Courses

Keep practicing these fundamental phrases, and you'll be introducing yourself in Chinese in no time! 祝你学习顺利! (Zhù nǐ xuéxí shùnlì! - Wishing you smooth studies!)