Difference between revisions of "Using the verb "jiao""
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
This can be used to give your full name or just your first name. | This can be used to give your full name or just your first name. | ||
| − | == | + | == Examples == |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>叫</em> Tom。<span class="expl">(Note: it even works if you don't have a Chinese name!)<span class="trans">My name is Tom.</span> | + | * 我 <em>叫</em> Tom。<span class="expl">(Note: it even works if you don't have a Chinese name!)</span><span class="trans">My name is Tom.</span> |
| − | * 他 <em>叫</em> 李小龙。<span class="expl">(Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee)<span class="trans">His name is Li | + | * 他 <em>叫</em> 李小龙。<span class="expl">(Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee)</span><span class="trans">His name is Li Xiaolong.</span> |
* 我 <em>哥哥</em> 叫 老木。<span class="expl">(Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Mu.</span> | * 我 <em>哥哥</em> 叫 老木。<span class="expl">(Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Mu.</span> | ||
| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 <em>叫</em> 什么 | + | * 你 <em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ？<span class="trans">What's your name? </span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 08:42, 28 January 2013
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.
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） (pp. 303) →buy
