叫 (to be called)

• Pinyin: jiào
• Formation: Subject + 叫 + Name
• Hanzi breakdown: 叫 = 口 (mouth) + 丩 (entangle)

Meaning

The verb 叫 (jiào) is used to state or ask someone's name. In the pattern Subject + 叫 + Name, it means 'to be called' or 'my name is.' No additional verb like 是 is needed.

The verb 叫 has multiple meanings, but its most basic use is for introductions and identifying names. The pattern 我叫... is the standard way to say 'My name is...' in Chinese. For asking names, 你叫什么名字? is the most common form. Note that 叫 literally means 'to call' or 'to shout,' and the name-giving usage evolved from 'people call me [name].' Unlike 姓 which is used specifically for surnames, 叫 is used for full names or given names. In formal contexts, 我叫... can be replaced with the more polite 我的名字是..., though the meaning is the same.

Examples

1. 我叫李明，很高兴认识你。 My name is Li Ming, nice to meet you.
2. 你叫什么名字？ What is your name?
3. 他叫张伟，是我的同事。 His name is Zhang Wei, he is my colleague.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, everyday, introductions

Tone: conversational

Do Say

• 你好，我叫王芳，请多关照。
• 请问你叫什么？
• 我的女儿叫小雨。

Don't Say

• 我叫是李明。(Do not add 是 after 叫 — 叫 already functions as the verb, adding 是 creates a double verb) → 我叫李明。
• 我叫姓张。(叫 is for full names or given names, not for surnames — use 姓 for surnames: 我姓张) → 我姓张。

Origin & History

The character 叫 contains the radical 口 (mouth), reflecting its original meaning of 'to cry out' or 'to call.' The usage for stating names derives from the idea of 'what people call you,' which is a common semantic shift seen across many languages.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal