我姓张。

Place 我 (I) at the start. Follow it with 姓 (xìng). Finish with your surname. If your name is Smith, you say 我姓 Smith. It is that simple. You use this before giving your full name. It establishes your family roots first.

Use it when meeting someone for the first time. It is perfect for business card exchanges. Use it at a restaurant when they ask for the name on a reservation. It works when checking into a hotel. It is the first thing you say in a job interview.

Don't use it with close friends. They already know who you are! Avoid using it in a signature for an informal text. Do not use it if someone asks for your full name 名字 (míngzi). In that case, use 我叫 (wǒ jiào) instead. Using 姓 alone can feel a bit distant in very intimate settings.

Surnames are a big deal in China. There are the 'Old Hundred Surnames' or 百姓 (bǎixìng). Zhang is one of the most common. It literally means 'to stretch a bow.' In the past, your surname determined your social standing. Today, it is a point of pride. People often ask 您贵姓? (What is your honorable surname?) to be polite.

You can add your full name after. For example: 我姓张，叫张伟. You can also say 免贵姓张 (miǎn guì xìng zhāng). This is a humble way to say 'My surname is Zhang, drop the "honorable" part.' It makes you sound like a pro! If you are feeling casual, just say the surname when asked.