你叫什么名字？
nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What's your name?
How to say "I am..." in Chinese
我是……
wǒ shì...
I am...
Character breakdown
Grammar and structure
This is a simple copula structure with 'wo' (我) meaning 'I' and 'shi' (是) meaning 'to be'. It's used to equate the subject with a noun or noun phrase.
Variations and politeness
我是学生
wǒ shì xuéshēng
I am a student. — Specifies who you are.
我叫……
wǒ jiào...
I am called... — More colloquial way to introduce your name.
我呢
wǒ ne
As for me... — Informal and conversational.
Mini dialogue
A
你好，我是李明
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì Lǐ Míng
Hello, I am Li Ming.
B
你好，李明。我是安娜
Nǐ hǎo, Lǐ Míng. Wǒ shì Ānnà
Hello, Li Ming. I am Anna.
When to use it
Appropriate
- When introducing yourself by name, nationality, or occupation.
- In both formal and informal settings when stating who you are.
- When answering the question 'Who are you?'
Avoid when
- When describing how you feel or your current state; use a different structure for adjectives.
- When talking about where you are; '是' is not used for locations.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 'I am' in Chinese?
You say '我是' (wǒ shì). It is used to introduce yourself or identify yourself as something.
How do you pronounce '我是'?
It is pronounced 'wǒ shì'. The 'wǒ' has a falling-rising tone, and 'shì' has a falling tone.
When do you use '我是' in Chinese?
Use '我是' when you want to say 'I am' followed by a noun, such as your name, nationality, or profession. Do not use it before adjectives or locations.
More phrases for this situation
Tomyo
Learn Chinese with spaced repetition
Remember 我是…… and hundreds of other phrases with smart reviews, audio and examples.