Difference between revisions of "Using the verb "jiao""
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* 他 <em>叫</em> 李小龙。<span class="expl">(Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee)</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiào</em> Lǐ Xiǎolóng.</span><span class="trans">His name is Li Xiaolong.</span> | * 他 <em>叫</em> 李小龙。<span class="expl">(Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee)</span><span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiào</em> Lǐ Xiǎolóng.</span><span class="trans">His name is Li Xiaolong.</span> | ||
* 我 哥哥 <em>叫</em> 老木。<span class="expl">(Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēgē <em>jiào</em> Lǎo Mù.</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Mu.</span> | * 我 哥哥 <em>叫</em> 老木。<span class="expl">(Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēgē <em>jiào</em> Lǎo Mù.</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Mu.</span> | ||
| − | * 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Ana。<span class="pinyin">Zhè | + | * 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Ana。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge měinǚ <em>jiào</em> Ana.</span><span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Ana.</span> |
* 我们 的 老板 <em>叫</em> John。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de lǎobǎn <em>jiào</em> John.</span><span class="trans">Our boss is named John.</span> | * 我们 的 老板 <em>叫</em> John。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de lǎobǎn <em>jiào</em> John.</span><span class="trans">Our boss is named John.</span> | ||
* 我 家 的 小 狗 <em>叫</em> Logan。<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiā de xiǎo gǒu <em>jiào</em> Logan.</span><span class="trans">Our family dog is called Logan.</span> | * 我 家 的 小 狗 <em>叫</em> Logan。<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiā de xiǎo gǒu <em>jiào</em> Logan.</span><span class="trans">Our family dog is called Logan.</span> | ||
* 这 种 啤酒 <em>叫</em> PBR。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng píjiǔ <em>jiào</em> PBR.</span><span class="trans">This kind of beer is called PBR.</span> | * 这 种 啤酒 <em>叫</em> PBR。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng píjiǔ <em>jiào</em> PBR.</span><span class="trans">This kind of beer is called PBR.</span> | ||
| − | * 这 个 <em>叫</em> 什么？<span class="pinyin">Zhè | + | * 这 个 <em>叫</em> 什么？<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <em>jiào</em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is this called?</span> |
| − | * 这 个 <em>叫</em> iPad。<span class="pinyin">Zhè | + | * 这 个 <em>叫</em> iPad。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge <em>jiào</em> iPad.</span><span class="trans">This is called an iPad.</span> |
| − | * 这 个 地方 <em>叫</em> 外滩。<span class="pinyin">Zhè | + | * 这 个 地方 <em>叫</em> 外滩。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge dìfāng <em>jiào</em> Wàitān.</span><span class="trans">This place is called the Bund.</span> |
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Revision as of 02:52, 17 August 2015
The verb 叫 (jiào) is used to indicate what someone or something is called, or what someone or something's name is. Its usage can seem a little weird to beginners. So it gets its own grammar point.
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:
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.
- 这 个 美女 叫 Ana。This pretty girl is named Ana.
- 我们 的 老板 叫 John。Our boss is named John.
- 我 家 的 小 狗 叫 Logan。Our family dog is called Logan.
- 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.
- 这 个 地方 叫 外滩。This place is called the Bund.
You can also ask people their names using 叫 (jiào):
- 你 叫 什么 名字 ？What's your name?
See also
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） (p. 303) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 49) →buy
