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- "His last name is Wang."
"His last name is Wang."
Translation:他姓王。
31 Comments
姓 is most commonly used as a verb (to be surnamed). This is not typically done in English, so I understand your confusion, but I think it's always important to remember when learning a different language that you can't always translate word for word and retain the meaning due to cultural differences.
Why is 他的姓是王 incorrect? This one doesn't follow the pattern of the others. Are surnames not considered nouns, and if not, why is there no link necessary between the noun and the name?
In Chinese we just say 我姓[surname]. I would treat the 姓 as a verb, like "to be surnamed", so 我姓王 = I am surnamed Wang.
他的姓是王 doesn't sound too natural.
I asked my Chinese girlfriend this exact question, and this is her replay: "It translates correctly so we can understand if a non-native says this, but this is simply not the way natives speak. It is a complicated way that is never used."
509
You can think of the verb 姓 as similar to German “heißen”, only that it specifically means “to be called by family (last) name”. 姓 can also be used as a noun “last name”, but it’s not particularly natural to use it as such in sentences like “what is your last name/my last name is”.
Thanks for comparing this with another language. Puts it into perspective :) wie heißen du?= What do you call yourself?
- 74
To ask someone in German what their name is, you would say/write "Wie heisst du?" = "What's your name?"
When someone/something is yet to be named, and the question is "What's he/she going to be called?" or "What's his/her name going to be?", you would write/say something like "Was sollt er/sie heissen?".
"Ich heisse The Flash" = "My name is The Flash" :D
If you instead put shi after the surname character, it translates to 'his surname is wang'. Or more correctly/commonly leave out shi to have 'he (is) surnamed wang'. Confusing I know.
I am trying to use a Chinese keyboard on my phone by typing in the pinyin and selecting the character. I can get 他 and 王 but don't know how to spell the pinyin of the middle character, can anyone help?
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MODERATORS:
他姓是王 or 他姓王. This continues to get mixed reviews from moderators and students regarding considering 他姓王 as being "surnamed". Otherwise, "His surname 'yes is' Wang."
It truly doesn't help anyone to have such variety of views and only a single right answer.
It doesn't sound natural, like for family members, the 的 should be omitted
My answer should be correct. Shì = is. I added shì to the sentence. Not only that, when i tap on the English sentence for is it translated " is" for shì in mandarin! So... how is that wrong?
I wish i were able to listen to the sentence after i get it wrong or right. So i could see how it sounds all together.
- 120
There are so many errors in this course and littered with inconsistencies. Somebody should at least think about adding similar translations that are still valid, especially non-formal phrases.
His last name " IS " Wang
I used "ta xing shi Wang", which is correct as you asked for the word "is". Yet, your accepted answer is "ta xing wang" meaning "his last name Wang", ask yourselves if that makes any sense!!
