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

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* 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>
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* 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="pinyin">Tā <em>jiào</em> Lǐ Xiǎolóng.</span><span class="trans">His name is Li Xiaolong.</span>
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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>
* 我 哥哥 <em>叫</em> 老马 。<span class="expl">(Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēgē <em>jiào</em> Lǎo Mǎ.</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Ma.</span>
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* 我 哥哥 <em>叫</em> 老马 。<span class="expl">Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēgē <em>jiào</em> Lǎo Mǎ.</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Ma.</span>
 
* 那 个 <em>叫</em> 什么?<span class="pinyin">Nà ge <em>jiào</em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is that called?</span>
 
* 那 个 <em>叫</em> 什么?<span class="pinyin">Nà ge <em>jiào</em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is that called?</span>
 
* 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Alana。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge měinǚ <em>jiào</em> Alana.</span><span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Alana.</span>
 
* 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Alana。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge měinǚ <em>jiào</em> Alana.</span><span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Alana.</span>

Revision as of 07:43, 17 February 2016

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:

Subj. + 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 老马 。Note: this is probably not his real name)Wǒ gēgē jiào Lǎo Mǎ.My brother is called Lao Ma.
  • 那 个 什么?Nà ge jiào shénme?What is that called?
  • 这 个 美女 Alana。Zhè ge měinǚ jiào Alana.This pretty girl is named Alana.
  • 我们 的 老板 John。Wǒmen de lǎobǎn jiào John.Our boss is named John.
  • 我 的 狗 Maximus。Wǒ de gǒu jiào Maximus.My dog is called Maximus.
  • 这 种 啤酒 PBR。Zhè zhǒng píjiǔ jiào PBR.This kind of beer is called PBR.
  • 你爸爸 什么? Nǐ bàba jiào 什么?What is your dad's name?
  • 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