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 měinǚ <em>jiào</em> Ana.</span><span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Ana.</span>
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* 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 <em>jiào</em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is this called?</span>
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* 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 <em>jiào</em> iPad.</span><span class="trans">This is called an iPad.</span>
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* 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 dìfāng <em>jiào</em> Wàitān.</span><span class="trans">This place is called the Bund.</span>
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* 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

Chinese-grammar-wiki-jiao.jpg

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

  • 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 Lǐ Xiǎolóng.His name is Li Xiaolong.
  • 我 哥哥 老木。(Note: this is probably not his real name)Wǒ gēgē jiào Lǎo Mù.My brother is called Lao Mu.
  • 这 个 美女 Ana。Zhè ge 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 ge jiào shénme?What is this called?
  • 这 个 iPad。Zhè ge jiào iPad.This is called an iPad.
  • 这 个 地方 外滩。Zhè ge 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