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HSK
7-9

surname

Character Composition


Characters

Pinyin

xing4shi4 xìngshì

Meaning


Primary

surname

Alternatives

family name

Hint

In ancient China, 姓 and 氏 represented two different types of group name. Eventually 氏 fell out of use and 姓 evolved into the surnames used today. This word originally refers to either or both of these systems, but since the latter is no longer used, it now simply refers to the surname (姓).

Mnemonic


姓氏 Surname has the same meaning as either of its characters 姓 surname and 氏 family name as they are effectively the same thing.

Usage


他 的 姓氏 是 王。

His surname is Wang.

很 多 人 有 相同 的 姓氏。

Many people have the same surname.

她 用 母親 的 姓氏。

She uses her mother's surname.