How to say "to address sb directly by name" in Chinese
直呼其名
zhí hū qí míng
social · social · intermediate · formal
When To Use It
"to address sb directly by name" maps to 直呼其名 (zhí hū qí míng), a formal social phrase for social situations.
This phrase fits casual social contact, quick check-ins, and low-pressure interactions with friends or acquaintances.
Practice it first exactly as written, then swap in your own people, places, or objects so it becomes part of your active speaking repertoire.
Tone And Delivery
The register is formal, which means it is better for respectful, official, or carefully worded interactions than for playful small talk.
Because this is marked intermediate, focus on when it sounds natural, not just how to translate it word for word.
A good practice target is the example sentence 直呼其名 (zhí hū qí míng). Once that feels natural, shorten your pause and try it at conversation speed.
Practice Ideas
This phrase becomes more useful when you learn it as part of a mini-sequence. After saying it, a natural next step could be 弹冠相庆 (tán guān xiāng qìng).
A second nearby phrase to review is 红头文件 (hóng tóu wén jiàn), which helps you stay in the same topic instead of translating from scratch again.
- Read the example “to address sb directly by name” aloud, then replace one detail with your own information.
- Pair it with “Lit. to flick dust off sb's cap (idiom)” next so your conversation does not stop after a single line.
- Match the phrase to your tone of voice: soft for polite requests, flatter and quicker for routine daily use.
- If you hear a slightly different version in the wild, compare the tone and context before treating it as interchangeable.
Examples
直呼其名
zhí hū qí míng
to address sb directly by name
Related
- lit. to flick dust off sb's cap (idiom) — 弹冠相庆 (tán guān xiāng qìng)
- red-letterhead document, an official document with the name of the issuing government agency printed in red at the top, circulated to relevant bodies — 红头文件 (hóng tóu wén jiàn)
- your name has been known to me for a long time (polite) — 久闻大名 (jiǔ wén dà míng)
- "eight wind points", name of a set of acupuncture points (EX-LE-10), four on each foot — 八风穴 (bā fēng xué)
Explore more phrases on the How to say index or try the Chinese Name Generator.
Phrase FAQ
How do you say "to address sb directly by name" in Chinese?
直呼其名 (zhí hū qí míng).
When should I use this phrase?
Use it in social situations where a formal tone fits. Because it is tagged intermediate, it is meant to be practical and reusable rather than literary or highly specialized.
Is pronunciation included?
Yes. Every phrase page includes pinyin with tone marks, plus example sentences so you can hear how the wording expands in real use.
What should I learn next after this phrase?
A useful follow-up is 弹冠相庆 (tán guān xiāng qìng) — "lit. to flick dust off sb's cap (idiom)". Studying connected phrases in small clusters makes them easier to recall in conversation.