How to Introduce Yourself in Chinese

To introduce yourself in Chinese, start with your name: say 我叫… (wǒ jiào…, "My name is…") or 我是… (wǒ shì…, "I am…"), followed by your name. From there you can add where you're from, your age, and your job, then close with 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ), "nice to meet you."

The building blocks

我叫 vs. 我是

Both introduce your name, with a subtle difference. 我叫 (wǒ jiào) literally means "I am called" and is followed directly by your name. 我是 (wǒ shì) means "I am" and is more flexible — you can follow it with a name, a nationality, or a role: 我是学生 (wǒ shì xuésheng, "I am a student"), 我是美国人 (wǒ shì Měiguó rén, "I am American").

Nationality, age, and job

To say your nationality, use 我是 + country + 人 (rén, "person"):

Note: asking or stating age is far more casual in Chinese culture than in the West, so 你今年多大？(nǐ jīnnián duō dà?, "How old are you?") is a normal getting-to-know-you question.

A sample self-introduction

Here's a complete introduction you can adapt by swapping in your own details:

How do you ask about the other person?

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you introduce yourself in Chinese?

Begin with 我叫… (wǒ jiào…) or 我是… (wǒ shì…) plus your name, add where you're from, and close with 很高兴认识你 (hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ).

What's the difference between 我叫 and 我是?

我叫 is followed directly by a name; 我是 ("I am") can take a name, role, or nationality.

How do you say where you're from?

Use 我来自… (wǒ láizì…) or 我是…人 (wǒ shì … rén) for nationality.

How do you ask someone's name?

Say 你叫什么名字？(nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?) or the polite 您贵姓？(nín guìxìng?).