Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0026 · Lesson No.026 · 零基础英语第二十六课 · Pre-A1 → A1

Forms and Personal Information | 表格与个人信息

First name. Family name. Date of birth. Phone number. Required field.
名。姓。出生日期。电话号码。必填项目。

A form is a reading task before it is a writing task. First understand the label. Then decide what type of information is requested. Then check whether it is required, what format it needs, and whether the information is appropriate to share.

填表之前，先读表。先看字段名称，再判断需要哪一类信息，再看是否必填、格式要求是什么，以及这些信息是否应该提供。

This lesson uses fictional information only. Do not enter real passwords, bank details, verification codes, identity-document numbers or other sensitive data into practice exercises.

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.025 · Reading Signs and Notices

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The form-reading map | 表格阅读路线

• first name / given name
• family name / surname / last name
• full name
• date of birth
• age
• address
• city / country / postal code
• phone number
• email address
• nationality / country of citizenship
• occupation
• emergency contact
• required / optional
• tick / check a box
• signature
• date format
• review / submit
• privacy and sensitive information

1. Full name | 全名

• Full Name
• Name

A form may ask for the complete name used for that context.

2. First name / given name | 名

• First Name
• Given Name

These often refer to the personal name rather than the family name, but naming systems vary across cultures.

3. Family name / surname / last name | 姓

• Family Name
• Surname
• Last Name

Do not assume every culture places the family name last in normal use. Read the field label carefully.

4. Name order | 姓名顺序

Chinese names often place the family name before the given name. Many English-language forms separate the fields.

Example fictional name:

• Family Name: Wang
• Given Name: Mei

Always follow the form’s exact labels.

5. Preferred name | 常用名

• Preferred Name
• Name You Prefer to Be Called

This may differ from a legal name. Only provide what the form legitimately requests.

6. Date of birth | 出生日期

• Date of Birth
• DOB

Common field. Check the required date format.

7. Date formats | 日期格式

Formats differ:

• DD/MM/YYYY
• MM/DD/YYYY
• YYYY-MM-DD

Never guess. Read the format shown beside the field.

8. Day / Month / Year | 日 / 月 / 年

• Day
• Month
• Year

Example fictional date: 12 September 2000.

9. Age | 年龄

• Age
• Age Group

Some forms ask exact age; others ask a range.

10. Address | 地址

• Address
• Home Address
• Mailing Address

Do not use a real home address in practice exercises.

11. Address Line 1 / 2 | 地址栏

• Address Line 1
• Address Line 2

Different systems use these lines differently. Follow the form’s instructions.

12. City / town | 城市 / 城镇

• City
• Town

13. State / province / region | 州 / 省 / 地区

Forms may use different geographical labels depending on country.

14. Postal code / postcode / ZIP code | 邮政编码

• Postal Code
• Postcode
• ZIP Code

Regional terms differ.

15. Country | 国家

• Country
• Country of Residence

Residence and citizenship are not the same concept.

16. Nationality | 国籍

• Nationality
• Country of Citizenship

Some forms ask one or the other. Do not infer what they mean; read the label.

17. Phone number | 电话号码

• Phone Number
• Mobile Number
• Contact Number

Use fictional numbers in practice.

18. Country code | 国家区号

• Country Code
• +65
• +86

Actual codes depend on the country. A plus sign often indicates international format.

19. Email address | 邮箱地址

• Email Address
• Confirm Email

Confirm Email usually means enter the same address again to check typing accuracy.

20. Occupation | 职业

• Occupation
• Job Title
• Profession

These fields are related but not always identical.

21. Employer | 雇主

• Employer
• Company
• Organisation

Only provide this when the form legitimately requests it.

22. School / institution | 学校 / 机构

• School
• Institution
• Organisation

23. Emergency contact | 紧急联系人

• Emergency Contact Name
• Emergency Contact Number
• Relationship

These fields are common in school, work, travel and medical contexts.

24. Relationship | 与本人关系

• parent
• spouse
• sibling
• friend
• guardian

Use the accurate relationship term.

25. Required | 必填

• Required
• Required Field
• * Required

An asterisk * often marks a required field, but check the form instructions.

26. Optional | 选填

• Optional
• Optional Field

If a field is optional, you may be able to leave it blank.

27. Leave blank | 留空

• Leave blank if not applicable.
• Leave this field blank.

28. Not applicable / N/A | 不适用

• Not Applicable
• N/A

Use only when the field truly does not apply and the form accepts it.

29. Tick / check the box | 勾选

• Tick the box.
• Check the box.
• Select one option.

tick is common British usage; check is common American usage.

30. Select one | 单选

• Select one.
• Choose one option.

31. Select all that apply | 可多选

This means choose every option that is true for you.

32. Yes / No | 是 / 否

• Yes
• No

Read the exact question before selecting.

33. Signature | 签名

• Signature
• Sign Here

A signature can have legal significance. Never sign a real form you do not understand.

34. Print name | 正楷写姓名

Print Name usually means write your name clearly in ordinary block letters, not provide a printed document.

35. Date | 日期

• Date
• Date Signed

Again, check the requested format.

36. Initials | 姓名首字母 / 简签

Initials can mean the first letters of names, or a short identifying mark requested in a form. Use only in real forms you understand.

37. Upload | 上传

• Upload File
• Upload Photo
• Choose File

Check accepted file type and privacy implications.

38. Attach | 附件

• Attach Document
• Attachment Required

39. File type | 文件类型

• PDF only
• JPG or PNG
• Maximum 5 MB

Technical requirements are part of the form-reading task.

40. Submit | 提交

• Submit
• Submit Form
• Submit Application

Submission may send the information. Review first.

41. Save | 保存

• Save
• Save Draft
• Save and Continue

Save Draft usually means not yet final.

42. Cancel | 取消

Cancel may leave the form without submitting.

43. Review | 检查

• Review Your Information
• Check Before Submitting

Review names, dates, numbers and required fields.

44. Confirmation page | 确认页面

• Submission Successful
• Thank You
• Reference Number

Keep any reference number if it is needed for the real process.

45. Error message | 错误提示

• This field is required.
• Invalid email address.
• Please enter a valid date.

Error messages tell you what to repair.

46. Invalid | 无效 / 格式不正确

• Invalid Number
• Invalid Date
• Invalid Format

47. Privacy: sensitive information | 敏感信息

Do not use practice forms to collect or expose:

• passwords
• PINs
• one-time codes
• bank account details
• credit-card numbers
• identity-document numbers
• medical records
• real home addresses unless genuinely required by a trusted process

48. Ask why the information is needed | 为什么需要？

• Why is this information required?
• Is this field optional?
• Can I leave this blank?

Good form literacy includes asking before oversharing.

49. Mandarin transfer: 姓 / 名 | surname/given name

Chinese name order can differ from many English examples. Follow field labels, not assumed order.

50. Mandarin transfer: 联系方式 | contact details

• contact details
• contact information

This can include phone and email, but the exact fields vary.

51. Mandarin transfer: 必填 / 选填 | required / optional

• 必填 → Required
• 选填 → Optional

52. Mandarin transfer: 不适用 | N/A

• 不适用 → Not Applicable / N/A

Do not use N/A when the correct answer is simply “No”.

53. Form-reading strategy 1: label | 先读字段

Before writing, ask: What information type does this field want?

54. Strategy 2: format | 再看格式

Date? Number? Email? One option? Multiple options? File upload?

55. Strategy 3: required or optional | 必填还是选填

Do not waste time filling optional fields you do not need, and do not miss required fields.

56. Strategy 4: privacy | 隐私检查

Ask whether the information is necessary and whether the form is trustworthy.

57. Strategy 5: review | 提交前检查

• spelling
• date format
• phone digits
• email
• required fields

58. Reading practice A: simple registration | 阅读 A

Given Name*	Mei
Family Name*	Wang
Email*	mei@example.com
Phone	Optional
Country*	Singapore

1. Which fields are required?
2. Which field is optional?
3. What is the family name?
4. What is the given name?

59. Reading practice B: date error | 阅读 B

Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY): 09/30/2000

The form shows DD/MM/YYYY. The entry uses an impossible month 30 if interpreted correctly. The problem is format, not vocabulary.

1. What format is required?
2. Why is 09/30/2000 invalid?
3. What should the learner check before re-entering the date?

60. Reading practice C: required attachment | 阅读 C

Please upload one PDF file. Maximum file size: 5 MB. This field is required.

1. What file type?
2. How many files?
3. What is the maximum size?
4. Can the field be left blank?

61. Writing practice: fictional form | 写虚构表格

Create a fictional profile using invented details:

• given name
• family name
• date of birth
• city
• country
• fictional phone
• fictional email

62. Speaking practice: ask about a form | 填表求助

• What does this field mean?
• Is this required?
• What date format should I use?
• Can I leave this blank?

63. Error clinic | 常见错误诊所

Error	Better English	What broke?
My family name is my first name. △	Check the labels carefully. ✓	name-system confusion
Birth date? △	Date of Birth. ✓	standard form phrase
This field must fill. ✗	This field is required. ✓	standard form language
Can empty this? ✗	Can I leave this blank? ✓	request structure
I submit already. △	I submitted it. ✓	past form

64. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

• I understand English but choose the wrong field → label meaning.
• I know field meaning but format fails → date/number format.
• I miss required fields → symbol/instruction detection.
• I overshare → privacy judgement.
• I fill correctly but submission fails → attachment/technical requirement.
• I submit without checking → review habit.

65. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

• 名。 → ______
• 姓。 → ______
• 出生日期。 → ______
• 电话号码。 → ______
• 邮箱地址。 → ______
• 必填。 → ______
• 选填。 → ______
• 不适用。 → ______
• 签名。 → ______
• 提交。 → ______

Suggested answers: Given Name / First Name. / Family Name / Surname. / Date of Birth. / Phone Number. / Email Address. / Required. / Optional. / Not Applicable / N/A. / Signature. / Submit.

66. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 min	name/date labels	姓名日期
2 min	contact/address labels	联系方式地址
2 min	required/optional	必填选填
2 min	checkbox/upload/submit	操作
2 min	review fictional form	检查

67. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1	name fields	姓名
Day 2	date/address	日期地址
Day 3	phone/email	联系方式
Day 4	required/optional/N-A	字段状态
Day 5	checkbox/signature	表格动作
Day 6	upload/error messages	技术提示
Day 7	complete fictional form	综合填表

68. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

1. Translate First Name.
2. Translate Family Name.
3. Translate Full Name.
4. Translate Date of Birth.
5. Name three date formats.
6. Translate Address.
7. Translate Postal Code.
8. Translate Country.
9. Translate Nationality.
10. Translate Phone Number.
11. Translate Email Address.
12. Translate Occupation.
13. Translate Emergency Contact.
14. Translate Required.
15. Translate Optional.
16. Translate N/A.
17. Translate Signature.
18. Explain Print Name.
19. Translate Upload File.
20. Translate Submit.
21. Explain Save Draft.
22. Explain “This field is required”.
23. Ask whether a field is optional.
24. Ask whether you can leave it blank.
25. Ask what date format to use.
26. Explain why real passwords should never be used in practice.
27. Explain why name order needs checking.
28. Complete a fictional five-field form.
29. Find one format error.
30. Review a fictional form before submission.

Answer key | 答案

1 名/名字; 2 姓; 3 全名; 4 出生日期; 5 DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD; 6 地址; 7 邮政编码; 8 国家; 9 国籍; 10 电话号码; 11 邮箱地址; 12 职业; 13 紧急联系人; 14 必填; 15 选填; 16 不适用; 17 签名; 18 write name clearly in letters; 19 上传文件; 20 提交; 21 save without final submission; 22 field cannot be left empty; 23 Is this field optional?; 24 Can I leave this blank?; 25 What date format should I use?; 26 sensitive information; 27 naming systems vary; 28–30 answers vary.

69. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Use fictional data only. Form literacy should never become a reason to collect private learner information.

Teach the reading order: label → format → required/optional → privacy → review.

For Mandarin speakers, explicitly discuss surname/given-name order and date-format ambiguity. These are systems problems, not vocabulary problems.

Use realistic error messages. Repairing “invalid date” or “required field” builds digital independence.

70. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

1. Identify ten common form fields.
2. Distinguish first/given name from family/surname.
3. Read three date formats.
4. Identify required and optional fields.
5. Use N/A correctly.
6. Understand checkbox instructions.
7. Understand upload requirements.
8. Ask for clarification.
9. Protect sensitive information.
10. Complete and review a fictional form accurately.

Next: Lesson No.027 | 下一课

Forms work when everything goes normally. Real life often doesn’t. Next, learn how to state a problem, describe what is wrong, ask for options, try a solution, check the result and escalate politely when needed.

Lesson No.027 · Problems and Solutions · 问题与解决

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Reference floor: British Council A1 Elementary · British Council A1 Reading · Cambridge English Vocabulary in Use: Elementary.