叫做 (jiàozuò) means 'to be called' or 'to be known as.' It is commonly used to introduce a name, title, or term, often in formal contexts. For example, you might say '这叫做中文' (This is called Chinese) when explaining the name of a language.
HSK 1, 16 strokes, Hard
jiàozuò(jiao4zuo4) T4
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May 27, 2026
叫做jiàozuò(jiao4zuo4)
叫做 (jiàozuò) means 'to be called' or 'to be known as.' It is commonly used to introduce a name, title, or term, often in formal contexts. For example, you might say '这叫做中文' (This is called Chinese) when explaining the name of a language.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, naming is significant, often reflecting deeper meanings or aspirations. Using 叫做 properly shows respect for the importance of names in personal and cultural identity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person shouting out a name (叫) followed by a group of people starting to do a little dance (做). Visualize the scene where they proudly announce the name of their dance, reinforcing that 叫 means to call out, and 做 means to do or make.
About 叫做
叫做Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryHSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 叫做
Podcast: 叫做
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AI Study Notes for 叫做
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person shouting out a name (叫) followed by a group of people starting to do a little dance (做). Visualize the scene where they proudly announce the name of their dance, reinforcing that 叫 means to call out, and 做 means to do or make.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 叫做 with just 叫, which means 'to call' without the implication of naming something. Remember that 叫做 is more formal and is typically followed by the name or title being introduced. Avoid using it in casual contexts where a simpler term would suffice.
HSK Study Tips
As a Level 1 learner, focus on using 叫做 in simple sentences to introduce new vocabulary. This word helps connect to other HSK 1 terms like 名字 (míngzì, name) and 这 (zhè, this), enhancing your ability to describe people and things.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, naming is significant, often reflecting deeper meanings or aspirations. Using 叫做 properly shows respect for the importance of names in personal and cultural identity.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 叫做 in casual conversations where 叫 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我叫做张' instead of '我叫张' (My name is Zhang). Remember, 叫 does not need the additional 做 in informal settings.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 叫做
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Cultural Notes for 叫做
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, naming is significant, often reflecting deeper meanings or aspirations. Using 叫做 properly shows respect for the importance of names in personal and cultural identity.
Frequently Asked Questions about 叫做
It's best to reserve 叫做 for more formal situations; in casual speech, just 叫 is often sufficient.
You can structure a sentence like '这叫做苹果' (This is called an apple) to introduce items or concepts.
No, 叫 is more general and can refer to calling someone, while 叫做 specifically introduces names or titles.
