叫

jiào

verb HSK 3 #127

Meanings

1 to call
2 to be called
3 to order

Characters

to call; to shout

口 (mouth) + 丩 (to twist) — a twisted cry from the mouth

Examples

我叫小明。

Wǒ jiào Xiǎo Míng.

My name is Xiao Ming.

他叫什么名字？

Tā jiào shénme míngzi?

What's his name?

妈妈叫我回家。

Māma jiào wǒ huí jiā.

Mom told me to come home.

Tips

grammar

我叫... is the most basic way to introduce your name. 叫 literally means 'to be called'.

usage

叫 can also mean 'to order someone to do something': 老师叫我回答问题 (The teacher told me to answer a question).

Stroke Order

叫 jiào