How to Introduce Yourself in Chinese: Easy Guide

Knowing how to introduce yourself in Chinese is a fundamental skill for beginners. This guide provides key vocabulary, useful sentence patterns, practical phrases, and complete sample scripts to help you speak confidently in school, work, and everyday social situations.

I. What Does a Self-Introduction in Chinese Include?

A good self-introduction in Chinese goes beyond simply stating your name. It follows clear patterns, reflects cultural norms, and is often more concise and respectful than in many Western languages. Whether you’re introducing yourself in a classroom, in a professional context, or during travel, understanding the building blocks of a Chinese self-introduction will help you express yourself naturally and confidently.

Key Elements of a Basic Self-Introduction

Here are the most common components of a beginner-level self-introduction in Mandarin:

• Your name – Usually introduced with:

  • 我叫 [name] (Wǒ jiào…) – "My name is…"

  • 我是 [name] (Wǒ shì…) – "I am…"

• Your nationality or place of origin – Example:

  • 我来自美国。 (Wǒ láizì Měiguó.) – "I come from the U.S."

• Your profession or student status – Example:

  • 我是老师。 (Wǒ shì lǎoshī.) – "I’m a teacher."

  • 我是学生。 (Wǒ shì xuéshēng.) – "I’m a student."

• Optional: your age, hobbies, academic background, or why you’re learning Chinese.

Depending on the context, not all parts are necessary. A simple and polite introduction often gets a better response than an overly detailed one.

Essential Vocabulary for Self-Introduction

Familiarity with this core set of words makes it easier to plug your own details into set phrases and sound more fluent from day one.

Basic Grammar Structure for Starting a Self-Introduction

Chinese sentence structure is typically Subject–Verb–Object (SVO), similar to English, but more streamlined. Here are a few easy formulas you’ll often follow:

Unlike in English, there's no need for connectors like “and” if you’re listing ideas one by one. Each sentence can stand alone. You’ll also notice that Chinese omits the subject sometimes when it's understood by context, especially in casual settings.

II. Common Phrases for Introducing Yourself in Chinese

Mastering a set of common phrases is the quickest way to start introducing yourself naturally in Mandarin Chinese. Depending on the setting—casual, academic, or professional—you’ll want to adjust tone, vocabulary, and sentence structure accordingly.

Beginner-Friendly Phrases (HSK 1–2 Level)

If you're just getting started, stick with these short, high-frequency expressions. They use basic grammar and appear in everyday settings.

Polite Expressions for Formal Situations

For professional settings, public speaking, or meeting elders in Chinese culture, it's important to communicate with respect and humility. These expressions help you sound more formal:

Expressive Phrases to Personalize Your Introduction

As your Chinese improves, you can extend your introduction to include more personal or relevant details. These intermediate phrases help strengthen connection with your audience:

Adding these details helps make your introduction more engaging and memorable—especially in social or classroom settings.

III. How to Introduce Yourself in Different Real-Life Contexts

Knowing basic phrases is important, but being able to adapt your self-introduction depending on the situation is what makes your Mandarin truly communicative and culturally appropriate. Below are examples for three common real-life contexts: education, work, and social settings. Each requires different tones, vocabulary, and degrees of formality.

Introducing Yourself in a School or Classroom Setting

This type of introduction is usually polite, friendly, and brief—ideal for first classes, student orientations, or language exchanges.

Useful phrases:

Pro Tip: Keep it thoughtful but brief. Optionally mention your interests (兴趣), hobbies (爱好), or major (专业).

Introducing Yourself in a Work or Professional Setting

This kind of introduction is more formal and focused on your background, job role, and skills. It’s useful in meetings, presentations, or job interviews.

Useful phrases:

Tone Tip: Use polite and respectful language. You can include your company name (公司名), position (职位), and years of experience (经验).

Introducing Yourself When Traveling or Socializing

When meeting new people casually—in travel, community meetups, or friendly conversations—your tone should be relaxed and open.

Useful phrases:

Tone Tip: Friendly and spontaneous. You can mention where you’re from, your reason for visiting, or personal interests to build rapport.

IV. Complete Sample Scripts for Self-Introduction

Once you’ve learned key phrases and sentence structures, the next step is to put them together in full introductions. Below are complete sample scripts categorized by length and level. You can use them as models to practice or customize your own.

Short Self-Introduction (Beginner Level)

Ideal for: quick intros in class, casual greetings, language exchanges

Chinese:
大家好！我叫Anna，我是美国人。我是学生，我喜欢学中文。谢谢！

Pinyin:
Dàjiā hǎo! Wǒ jiào Anna, wǒ shì Měiguó rén. Wǒ shì xuéshēng, wǒ xǐhuān xué Zhōngwén. Xièxie!

Translation:
Hello everyone! My name is Anna. I’m from the U.S. I’m a student and I enjoy learning Chinese. Thank you!

Medium-Length Introduction (For Class or Practice Writing)

Suitable for: classroom presentations, writing exercises, interviews with other students

Chinese:
大家好，我叫李明，今年二十五岁。我来自新加坡，目前在大学学习汉语。我最大的兴趣是了解不同文化，也喜欢看中文电影。很高兴认识你们！

Pinyin:
Dàjiā hǎo, wǒ jiào Lǐ Míng, jīnnián èrshíwǔ suì. Wǒ láizì Xīnjiāpō, mùqián zài dàxué xuéxí Hànyǔ. Wǒ zuìdà de xìngqù shì liǎojiě bùtóng wénhuà, yě xǐhuān kàn Zhōngwén diànyǐng. Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐmen!

Translation:
Hello everyone, my name is Li Ming and I’m 25 years old. I’m from Singapore and currently studying Chinese at university. My biggest interest is learning about different cultures, and I also enjoy watching Chinese movies. Nice to meet you all!

Longer Self-Introduction (Intermediate Level)

For: formal presentations, language contests, job interviews, study abroad programs

Chinese:
大家好，我叫陈美琳，来自加拿大。今年28岁，毕业于多伦多大学国际商务专业。过去几年里，我一直在学习中文，并在一家国际公司担任市场专员。我非常热爱中文，也希望未来能在中国工作，进一步提升语言和专业能力。很荣幸在这里介绍自己，谢谢大家！

Pinyin:
Dàjiā hǎo, wǒ jiào Chén Měilín, láizì Jiānádà. Jīnnián èrshíbā suì, bìyè yú Duōlúnduō Dàxué guójì shāngwù zhuānyè. Guòqù jǐ nián lǐ, wǒ yīzhí zài xuéxí Zhōngwén, bìng zài yì jiā guójì gōngsī dānrèn shìchǎng zhuānyuán. Wǒ fēicháng rè’ài Zhōngwén, yě xīwàng wèilái néng zài Zhōngguó gōngzuò, jìnyībù tíshēng yǔyán hé zhuānyè nénglì. Hěn róngxìng zài zhèlǐ jièshào zìjǐ, xièxiè dàjiā!

Translation:
Hello everyone, my name is Chen Meilin, and I’m from Canada. I’m 28 years old and graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in International Business. Over the past few years, I’ve been studying Chinese and working as a marketing specialist at an international company. I’m very passionate about the Chinese language and hope to work in China in the future to further improve both my language and professional skills. It’s an honor to introduce myself here—thank you all!

These scripts provide a strong foundation to adapt your own self-introduction for different learning goals or situations. Practice reading them aloud with proper tone and rhythm, then modify the content to reflect your personal background and interests.

Making your first self-introduction in Chinese may feel unfamiliar—but mastering it opens the door to connection, confidence, and cultural fluency. Start simple. Say your name clearly. State where you're from. Add one more sentence when you're ready.

Follow PREP for patterns, real-world context, and steady guidance—so every word you say in Mandarin feels more natural, more respectful, and more authentically yours.