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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
The verb 叫 (jiào) can seem a little weird to beginners.  So it gets its own grammar point!
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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 ==
 
== Structure ==
  
The verb 叫 means both "to call" and "to be called". It's an easy way to give names, using the following structure:
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The verb 叫 (jiào) means both "to call" and "to be called." It's an easy way to give names, using the following structure:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 叫 + Name
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Subj. + 叫 + [Name]
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
This can be used to give your full name or just your first name.  
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This can be used to give your full name or just your first name.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<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>
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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="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> 老木。<span class="expl">(Note: this is probably not his real name)</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Mu.</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 gēge <em>jiào</em> Lǎo Mǎ.</span><span class="trans">My brother is called Lao Ma.</span>
* 这 个 美女<em>叫</em> Ana。<span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Ana.</span>
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* 那 个 <em>叫</em> 什么?<span class="pinyin">Nàge <em>jiào</em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is that called?</span>
* 我们的老板<em>叫</em> John。<span class="trans">Our boss is named John.</span>
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* 这 个 美女 <em>叫</em> Alana。<span class="pinyin">Zhège měinǚ <em>jiào</em> Alana.</span><span class="trans">This pretty girl is named Alana.</span>
* 我 狗 <em>叫</em> Logan。<span class="trans">Our family dog's name is Logan.</span>
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* 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>
* 这 种 啤酒 <em>叫</em> PBR。<span class="trans">This kind of beer is called PBR.</span>
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* 我 的 狗 <em>叫</em> Max。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de gǒu <em>jiào</em> Max.</span><span class="trans">My dog is called Max.</span>
* 这 个<em>叫</em> 什么?<span class="trans">What is this called?</span>
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* 这 种 手机 <em>叫</em> iPhone。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shǒujī <em>jiào</em> iPhone.</span><span class="trans">This kind of cell phone is called an iPhone.</span>
* 这 个<em>叫</em> iPad。<span class="trans">This is called an iPad.</span>
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* 你 爸爸 <em>叫</em> 什么?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ bàba <em>jiào</em> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What is your dad's name?</span>
 
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* 这 个 地方 <em>叫</em> 外滩。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>jiào</em> Wàitān.</span><span class="trans">This place is called the Bund.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
You can also ask people their names using 叫:
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You can also ask people their names using 叫 (jiào):
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 <em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ?<span class="trans">What's your name? </span>
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* 你 <em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiào</em> shénme míngzi?</span><span class="trans">What's your name? </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[Using the verb xing]]
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 +
*[[Using the verb "xing"]]
 
*[[Introducing people]]
 
*[[Introducing people]]
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 24-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|14}}
* [[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]]  (pp. 303) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|24-5}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语八百词(增订本)]]  |303}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|49}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
{{Used for|Introducing people}}
 
{{Used for|Introducing people}}
{{Basic Grammar|叫|A1|叫 + (Name)|你的 名字 <em>叫</em> 什么 ?|grammar point|ASGUGWVZ}}
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{{Basic Grammar|叫|A1|叫 + Name|<em>叫</em> 什么 名字 ?|grammar point|ASGUGWVZ}}
{{Similar|Using the verb xing}}  
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{{Similar|Using the verb "xing"}}  
 
{{Similar|Introducing people}}
 
{{Similar|Introducing people}}
 
{{Similar|Causative verbs}}     
 
{{Similar|Causative verbs}}     

Revision as of 09:45, 14 March 2019

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 Leejiào Lǐ Xiǎolóng.His name is Li Xiaolong.
  • 我 哥哥 老马 。Note: this is probably not his real nameWǒ gēge jiào Lǎo Mǎ.My brother is called Lao Ma.
  • 那 个 什么?Nàge jiào shénme?What is that called?
  • 这 个 美女 Alana。Zhège 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 Max。Wǒ de gǒu jiào Max.My dog is called Max.
  • 这 种 手机 iPhone。Zhè zhǒng shǒujī jiào iPhone.This kind of cell phone is called an iPhone.
  • 你 爸爸 什么? Nǐ bàba jiào shénme?What is your dad's name?
  • 这 个 地方 外滩。Zhège dìfang jiào Wàitān.This place is called the Bund.

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

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

See also

Sources and further reading

Books