Traditional: 呌
jiào HSK 1

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我叫小明。
Wǒ jiào Xiǎomíng.
My name is Xiaoming.
你叫什么?
Nǐ jiào shénme?
What is your name?
他叫猫。
Tā jiào māo.
He calls the cat.
我叫安娜。
Wǒ jiào Ānnà.
My name is Anna.
你到了请叫我。
Nǐ dào le qǐng jiào wǒ.
Please call me when you arrive.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 叫 as sounding like 'jiao,' similar to 'jowl' in English, which relates to the mouth—where calling or naming comes from. Imagine someone calling out a name loudly to remember its association with vocal actions.

📝 Usage Notes

叫 is commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, in formal and informal contexts. It's frequently employed in introductions, commands (like calling someone over), or describing sounds (e.g., animals calling). In casual speech, it can also mean 'to order' (as in ordering food) or 'to make' (as in causing something to happen).

📖 Grammar Points

叫 is often used in the structure: Subject + 叫 + Name (e.g., 我叫小明 - I am called Xiaoming). It can also be used in causative constructions: Subject + 叫 + Object + Verb (e.g., 他叫我帮忙 - He asked me to help). In questions, it pairs with interrogatives like 什么 (what) or 谁 (who).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, asking '你叫什么名字?' is a standard, polite way to inquire about someone's name, especially in initial meetings. Using 叫 for names reflects a direct yet respectful approach, as names hold significance in social interactions. It's less formal than alternatives like 请问您贵姓? (May I ask your surname?).

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 喊 (hǎn), which emphasizes shouting or yelling, 叫 is more general for calling or naming. Unlike 称为 (chēngwéi), a formal term for 'to be called,' 叫 is simpler and more everyday. 叫 also differs from 命名 (mìngmíng), which specifically means 'to name' in a formal or ceremonial sense.

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