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March 24, 2026
叫jiào(jiao4)
The character 叫 (jiào) is a versatile verb in Mandarin that primarily means 'to shout' or 'to call.' It is commonly used in various contexts, such as calling someone’s name or ordering food, and can also indicate being called something in a passive sense.
Strokes5Radical口Frequency#127DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, names hold significant importance, and how you are called can reflect your identity and social relations. The use of 叫 in introducing oneself is a common practice in both casual and formal settings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person shouting across a crowded street, trying to get someone's attention. The character 叫 looks like a person (the top part) calling out to a group (the bottom part), which helps you remember the meaning 'to call' and its pronunciation 'jiào.'
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AI Study Notes for 叫
Quick Contrast
叫 (jiào) vs 告诉 (gàosù) — use 叫 when referring to calling someone's name or summoning, while 告诉 is for conveying information.
Usage Notes
Be cautious as 叫 can be informal and context-dependent. It is often used in everyday conversation, but in formal situations, other verbs like '称呼' (chēnghū) may be more appropriate. A common mistake is confusing 叫 with 喊 (hǎn), which specifically means 'to shout loudly.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 叫 connects to other basic verbs like 吃 (chī, to eat) and 喝 (hē, to drink). Focus on using it in simple sentences, such as '我叫...' (Wǒ jiào..., 'I am called...') to practice your speaking skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 叫 with 说 (shuō, to speak), using them interchangeably in sentences like '我叫他说...' (Wǒ jiào tā shuō..., which would incorrectly mean 'I call him to speak...'). The correct phrase should be '我叫他...' (Wǒ jiào tā..., meaning 'I call him...').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 叫
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Drill the tone of 叫 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 丩 represents the sound.
1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
2The sound half丩 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymouth
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 叫? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 叫?
Decomposition of 叫
IDS Structure⿰口丩
叫Full Character
=
口kou3
left
丩jiu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 叫?
How to say to shout in Chinese
“to shout” in Chinese is叫jiào
The character 叫 (jiào) is a versatile verb in Mandarin that primarily means 'to shout' or 'to call.' It is commonly used in various contexts, such as calling someone’s name or ordering food, and can also indicate being called something in a passive sense.
When to use 叫
Be cautious as 叫 can be informal and context-dependent. It is often used in everyday conversation, but in formal situations, other verbs like '称呼' (chēnghū) may be more appropriate. A common mistake is confusing 叫 with 喊 (hǎn), which specifically means 'to shout loudly.'
叫 or something close to it
叫 (jiào) vs 告诉 (gàosù) — use 叫 when referring to calling someone's name or summoning, while 告诉 is for conveying information.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 叫 with 说 (shuō, to speak), using them interchangeably in sentences like '我叫他说...' (Wǒ jiào tā shuō..., which would incorrectly mean 'I call him to speak...'). The correct phrase should be '我叫他...' (Wǒ jiào tā..., meaning 'I call him...').
Write 叫
叫
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Practice writing 叫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 叫
叫 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
