称

• Pinyin: chēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 称 = 禾 (grain) + 尔 (phonetic component) — originally related to weighing grain

Meaning

To call; to refer to as; to address.

Used when giving something a name or title, or referring to someone by a certain designation. Common in both formal introductions and casual references. Also used in passive constructions meaning 'to be called.'

Examples

1. 大家都称他为李老师，虽然他已经退休了。 Everyone calls him Teacher Li, even though he has already retired.
2. 这种植物在民间被称为仙人掌。 This plant is commonly called cactus among the people.
3. 朋友们喜欢称呼她小美，因为她长得很漂亮。 Her friends like to call her Xiaomei because she is very pretty.

Usage Guide

Context: naming, introduction, description

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 他被称为天才。(He is called a genius.)
• 我们称她王姐。(We call her Sister Wang.)

Don't Say

• 混淆'称'(chēng, 称呼)和'称'(chèn, 称心)——两个读音意思不同 (Don't confuse 称 chēng meaning 'to call' with 称 chèn meaning 'satisfactory' — different tones, different meanings)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'to weigh' but extended to 'to name/call' through the idea of evaluating and designating.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal