Using the verb "jiao"

The verb 叫 (jiào) can seem a little weird to beginners. So it gets its own grammar point!

Structure

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

Subject + 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!)My name is Tom.
• 他 叫 李小龙。(Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee)His name is Li Xiaolong.
• 我 哥哥 叫 老木。(Note: this is probably not his real name)My brother is called Lao Mu.
• 你好，我 叫 于翠。Hi, my name is Yu Cui.
• 这 个 美女叫 杨仁君。This pretty girl is named Yang Renjun.
• 我们的老板叫 John。Our boss is named John.
• 我 家 的 小 狗 叫 牛顿。Our family dog's name is Newton.
• 这 种 啤酒 叫 PBR。This kind of beer is called PBR.
• 这 个叫 什么？What is this called?
• 这 个叫 iPad。This is called an iPad.

You can also ask people their names using 叫:

• 你 叫 什么 名字 ？What's your name?

See also

• Using the verb xing
• Introducing people

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 24-5) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 303) →buy