19

Introductions

19.1The general format of introductions

Formal introductions use the polite classifier for people, wèi.

!"#$ %&'$!"#$ %&'$

Zhè wèi shì Liú Xikodsng. Zhè wèi shì Wáng Méilíng. This (person) is Liu Xiaodong. This (person) is Wang Meiling.

Neutral introductions have the following format.

!"# $%!"# $%

Zhè shì Liú Xikodsng. Zhè shì Wáng Méilíng.

This is Liu Xiaodong. This is Wang Meiling.

The most common and neutral response to an introduction is:

Nm hko.

Hello. (lit. ‘How are you?’)

More formal responses to an introduction include:

!"#$!"#$

Hln gpoxìng rènshi nm.

I’m very happy to meet you.

Jio ykng.

I have wanted to make your acquaintance for a long time.

jio ykng is often said twice.

!"!"

Jio wén dà míng.

I have heard so much about you.

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19.2Sample introductions

The following conversations illustrate informal and formal introductions. It is appropriate to include information about a person’s work or field of study in an introduction. Following the conversations are the Mandarin terms for many common occupations and fields of study.

conversation 1 (neutral level of formality)

A:!"#$%&'()'*+'(!"#$%&'()'*+'(

Zhè shì Lm xikojie, wn de tóngxué. Tp xué dìzhìxué.

!!"#$%&'()*(&!!"#$%&'()*(&

Zhè shì wn gqge, Zhpng Dànián. Tp xué yoyánxué.

This is Miss Li, my classmate. She studies geology.

This is my older brother, Zhang Danian. He studies linguistics.

Nm hko.

Hello.

Nm hko. Hello.

conversation 2 (more formal)

A:!"#"#$%&'()*+%&',-./012345+!"#"#$%&'()*+%&',-./012345+

Wn gli nmmen jièshào jièshào, zhè wèi shì Táng jiàoshòu. Zhè wèi shì cóng Mliguó lái de Sr Mìsr xipnsheng.

Allow me to introduce the two of you. This is Professor Tang. This is Mr. Smith from America.

B:!

Jio ykng, jio ykng.

I have wanted to make your acquaintance for a long time now.

conversation 3 (formal)

A:!"#$%&'())' "*+',-./!"#$%&'())' "*+',-./

Zhè wèi shì ynu míng de yrnyuè jip, Mk Ynu-ynu, zhè wèi shì míng dáoykn, Zhpng Yìmóu.

This is the famous musician, Ma You-you. This is the famous film Director, Zhang Yimou.

B:!"

Jio ykng dàmíng.

I have heard your name and have wanted to meet you for a long time.

C:!

Bícm, bícm.

The feeling is mutual. (in reply to someone well-known)

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19.3Common occupations and fields of study

Common professions

NOTE These are not used as titles or as terms of address. For professions that are also used as titles and terms of address, see

Í18.3.2

Fields of study

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