Formal introductions use the polite classifier for people, 位 wèi.
这位是刘晓东。这位是王玫玲。
這位是劉曉東。這位是王玫玲。
Zhè wèi shì Liú Xiǎodōng. Zhè wèi shì Wáng Méilíng.
This (person) is Liu Xiaodong. This (person) is Wang Meiling.
Neutral introductions have the following format.
这是刘晓东。这是王玫玲。
這是劉曉東。這是王玫玲。
Zhè shì Liú Xiǎodōng. Zhè shì Wáng Méilíng.
This is Liu Xiaodong. This is Wang Meiling.
The most common and neutral response to an introduction is:
你好。
Nǐ hǎo.
Hello. (lit. ‘How are you?’)
More formal responses to an introduction include:
很高兴认识你。
很高興認識你。
Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.
I’m very happy to meet you.
久仰。
Jiǔ yǎng.
I have wanted to make your acquaintance for a long time.
久仰 jiǔ yǎng is often said twice.
久闻大名。
久聞大名。
Jiǔ wén dàmíng.
I have heard so much about you. (lit. ‘I have long heard of your great fame.’)
or
久仰大名。
Jiǔ yǎng dàmíng.
I have heard so much about you. (lit. ‘I have long admired your famous name.’)
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: | 这是李小姐，我的同学。她学地质学。 這是李小姐，我的同學。她學地質學。 Zhè shì Lǐ xiǎojie, wǒ de tóngxué. Tā xué dìzhìxué. 这是我哥哥，张大年。他学语言学。 這是我哥哥，張大年。他學語言學。 Zhè shì wǒ gēge, Zhāng Dànián. Tā xué yǔyánxué. This is Miss Li, my classmate. She studies geology. This is my older brother, Zhang Danian. He studies linguistics. |
| B: | 你好。 Nǐ hǎo. Hello. |
| C: | 你好。 Nǐ hǎo. Hello. |
Conversation 2 (more formal)
| A: | 我给你们介绍介绍，这位是唐教授。这位是从美国来的司密斯先生。 我給你們介紹介紹，這位是唐教授。這位是從美國來的司密斯先生。 Wǒ gěi nǐmen jièshào jièshào, zhè wèi shì Táng jiàoshòu. Zhè wèi shì cóng Měiguó lái de Sī Mìsī xiānsheng. Allow me to introduce the two of you. This is Professor Tang. This is Mr. Smith from America. |
| B: | 久仰，久仰。 Jiǔ yǎng, jiǔ yǎng. I have wanted to make your acquaintance for a long time now. |
Conversation 3 ( formal)
| A: | 这位是有名的音乐家，马友友，这位是名导演，张艺谋。 這位是有名的音樂家，馬友友，這位是名導演，張藝謀。 Zhè wèi shì yǒumíng de yīnyuè jiā, Mǎ Yǒu-yǒu, zhè wèi shì míng dáoyǎn, Zhāng Yìmóu. This is the famous musician Ma You-you. This is the famous film director Zhang Yimou. |
| B: | 久仰大名。 Jiǔ yǎng dàmíng. I have heard your name and have wanted to meet you for a long time. |
| C: | 彼此，彼此。 Bícǐ, bícǐ. The feeling is mutual. (in reply to someone well known) |
Common professions
| 科学家/科學家 | 作者 |
| kēxuéjiā | zuòzhě |
| scientist | writer |
| 画家/畫家 | 音乐家/音樂家 |
| huàjiā | yīnyuè jiā |
| artist | musician |
| 记者/記者 | 会计/會計 |
| jìzhě | kuàijì |
| reporter | accountant |
| 农民/農民 | 工人 |
| nóngmín | gōngrén |
| farmer | worker |
| 牙医/牙醫 | 救火员/救火員 |
| yá yī | jiùhuǒyuán |
| dentist | fireman |
| 木匠 | 水工 |
| mùjiang | shuǐgōng |
| carpenter | plumber |
| 化工 | 电工/電工 |
| huàgōng | diàngōng |
| chemical engineer | electrical engineer; electrician |
| 业主/業主 | 小贩/小販 |
| yèzhǔ | xiǎofàn |
| owner of a business | street vendor |
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
► 22.3.2
Fields of study