Difference between revisions of "Using the verb "jiao""

Line 19: Line 19:
 
<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><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="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiào </em> Tom.</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><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> lǐxiǎolóng.</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="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> lǎomù.</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Mu.</span>
* 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Ana。<span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Ana.</span>
+
* 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Ana。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè 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="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="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="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="trans">What is this called?</span>
+
* 这 个 <em>叫</em> 什么?<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè <em>jiào </em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is this called?</span>
* 这 个 <em>叫</em> iPad。<span class="trans">This is called an iPad.</span>
+
* 这 个 <em>叫</em> iPad。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè <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="trans">This place is called the Bund.</span>
+
* 这 个 地方 <em>叫</em> 外滩。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè dìfāng <em>jiào </em> wàitān.</span><span class="trans">This place is called the Bund.</span>
  
  
Line 37: Line 37:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 <em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ?<span class="trans">What's your name? </span>
+
* 你 <em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiào </em> shénme míngzì?</span><span class="trans">What's your name? </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 18:10, 1 October 2014

Chinese-grammar-wiki-jiao.jpg

The verb 叫 (jiào) 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

  • Tom。(Note: it even works if you don't have a Chinese name!)jiào Tom.My name is Tom.
  • 李小龙。(Note: this is the real name of Bruce Lee)jiào lǐxiǎolóng.His name is Li Xiaolong.
  • 我 哥哥 老木。(Note: this is probably not his real name)Wǒ gēgē jiào lǎomù.My brother is called Lao Mu.
  • 这 个 美女 Ana。Zhè gè měinǚ jiào Ana.This pretty girl is named Ana.
  • 我们 的 老板 John。Wǒmen de lǎobǎn jiào John.Our boss is named John.
  • 我 家 的 小 狗 Logan。Wǒjiā de xiǎo gǒu jiào Logan.Our family dog is called Logan.
  • 这 种 啤酒 PBR。Zhè zhǒng píjiǔ jiào PBR.This kind of beer is called PBR.
  • 这 个 什么?Zhè gè jiào shénme?What is this called?
  • 这 个 iPad。Zhè gè jiào iPad.This is called an iPad.
  • 这 个 地方 外滩。Zhè gè dìfāng jiào wàitān.This place is called the Bund.


You can also ask people their names using 叫 (jiào):

  • 什么 名字 ?jiào shénme míngzì?What's your name?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books