Difference between revisions of "Using the verb "jiao""
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | 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 | + | 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 === | === Structure === | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. + 叫 + Name | + | Subj. + 叫 + [Name] |
</div> | </div> | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
* 我 的 狗 <em>叫</em> Maximus。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de gǒu <em>jiào</em> Maximus.</span><span class="trans">My dog is called Maximus.</span> | * 我 的 狗 <em>叫</em> Maximus。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de gǒu <em>jiào</em> Maximus.</span><span class="trans">My dog is called Maximus.</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> | ||
| − | * 你爸爸 <em>叫</em> 什么？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ bàba <em>jiào</em> 什么?</span><span class="trans">What is your dad | + | * 你爸爸 <em>叫</em> 什么？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ bàba <em>jiào</em> 什么?</span><span class="trans">What is your dad's name?</span> |
* 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> | * 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> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| Line 40: | Line 40: | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| − | *[[Using the verb xing]] | + | |
| + | *[[Using the verb "xing"]] | ||
*[[Introducing people]] | *[[Introducing people]] | ||
| Line 54: | Line 55: | ||
[[Category:Verbs]] | [[Category:Verbs]] | ||
{{Used for|Introducing people}} | {{Used for|Introducing people}} | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|叫|A1|叫 + | + | {{Basic Grammar|叫|A1|叫 + [Name]|你 <em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ？|grammar point|ASGUGWVZ}} |
| − | {{Similar|Using the verb xing}} | + | {{Similar|Using the verb "xing"}} |
{{Similar|Introducing people}} | {{Similar|Introducing people}} | ||
{{Similar|Causative verbs}} | {{Similar|Causative verbs}} | ||
Revision as of 17:12, 12 February 2016
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:
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!)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.
- 那 个 叫 什么？What is that called?
- 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 的 狗 叫 Maximus。My dog is called Maximus.
- 这 种 啤酒 叫 PBR。This kind of beer is called PBR.
- 你爸爸 叫 什么？What is your dad's name?
- 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
