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.
- 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:
- 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
