1.10: Lesson 1 Grammar - The Verb 叫 (jiào)

Structure

The verb 叫 (jiào) means both "to call" and "to be called." It's an easy way to give names, using the following structure:

Subj. + 叫 + [Name]

This can be used to give your full name or just your first name.

Examples

• 我叫 Tom。
  [Note: it even works if you don't have a Chinese name!]
  Wǒ jiào Tom.
  My name is Tom.
  
• 他叫李小龙。
  Tā jiào Lǐ Xiǎolóng.
  His name is Li Xiaolong.
  [Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee.]
  
• 我哥哥叫老马 。
  Wǒ gēge jiào Lǎo Mǎ.
  My brother is called Lao Ma.
  [Note: this is probably a nickname, not a real name.]
  
• 那个叫什么？
  Nàge jiào shénme?
  What is that called?
  
• 这个美女叫 Alana。
  Zhège měinǚ jiào Alana.
  This pretty girl is named Alana.
  
• 我们的老板叫 John。
  Wǒmen de lǎobǎn jiào John.
  Our boss is named John.
  
• 我的狗叫 Max。
  Wǒ de gǒu jiào Max.
  My dog is called Max.
  
• 这种手机叫 iPhone。
  Zhè zhǒng shǒujī jiào iPhone.
  This kind of cell phone is called an iPhone.
  
• 你爸爸叫什么？
  Nǐ bàba jiào shénme?
  What is your dad's name?
  
• 这个地方叫外滩。
  Zhège dìfang jiào Wàitān.
  This place is called the Bund.
  [Note: The Bund is a famous street in Shanghai.]

You can also ask people their names using 叫 (jiào):

• 你叫什么名字？
  Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
  What's your name?

[adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]

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Any Questions?

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