Background: Social and vocational dysfunctions of schizophrenic patients have generally been considered to result from their illness. Clinical symptoms and social cognition have a great impact on social functioning. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between clinical symptoms, social cognition and domains of social functioning in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: Sixty schizophrenic patients were included in the study. All subjects participated in a semi-structured interview and a battery of assessments, including: a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), a categories test, a Benton facial recognition test, and assessment exercises of picture completion, picture arrangement, object assembly and personal social performance. Results: Negative symptoms, duration of illness and picture arrangement were positively and negatively associated with socially useful activities respectively (r = .49，r = .25，r = -.32). Benton Facial Recognition Test (BFRT) and picture arrangement was negatively associated with personal and social relationship (r = -.60, r = -.20), while two domains of PANSS, including negative symptoms and general psychopathology were positively associated with personal and social relationship (r = .40, r =.25). Negative symptoms and picture arrangement were positively and negatively correlated with self-care respectively (r =58, r = -.41). Only negative symptoms were positively correlated with disturbing, aggressive behavior (r = .48). Conclusions: Multiple regression analysis revealed that negative symptoms, picture arrangement, BFRT, duration of illness and general psychopathology were associated with socially useful activities, personal and social relationships, self-care, disturbing and aggressive behavior of social functioning. Chronic schizophrenic inpatients could receive treatments or interventions geared to improving their clinical symptoms and social functioning.