About
The character 姓 means "surname" or "family name". It is an ideogrammic compound formed by the radical 女 (nǚ, "woman") on the left and the component 生 (shēng, "to be born") on the right. This structure reflects early matrilineal lineage practices in China, where clan identity was traced through the mother. The right component 生 also contributes the character's phonetic value. Despite later societal shifts to a patrilineal system, the character retained the female radical and remains the standard term for a hereditary family name.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我的姓氏是王。
你的姓氏是什么？
她姓李，叫李芳。
请问您贵姓？
在中国，姓氏很重要。
他的姓和我的姓一样。
你知道她姓什么吗？
姓氏通常随父亲。