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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.'
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.
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.
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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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.
Speakers have been shouted down, classes disrupted, teachers made to grovel.
4
那个23岁女孩的尖叫引来了一位过路人前去营救。
nà gè23 23 suì nǚ hái de jiān jiào yǐn lái le yī wèi guò lù rén qián qù yíng。
The 23-year-old's screams alerted a passerby who went to her rescue.
5
他朝他的兄弟吼叫，脖子上青筋暴突。
tā zhāo tā de xiōng dì hǒu jiào， ， bó zǐ shàng qīng jīn bào。
He shouted at his brother, his neck veins bulging.
6
他叫我们滚蛋，于是我们威胁他的孩子。
tā jiào wǒ mén gǔn dàn， ， yú shì wǒ mén wēi xié tā de hái。
He told us to get stuffed so we leaned on his kid.
7
他把我叫到他的办公室私下谈了谈。
tā bǎ wǒ jiào dào tā de bàn gōng shì sī xià tán le tán。
He called me to his office for a man-to-man talk.
8
我叫他停下，可他不听。
wǒ jiào tā tíng xià， ， kě tā bù。
When I asked him to stop, he would not listen.
9
他按铃叫保安放他出去。
tā àn líng jiào bǎo ān fàng tā chū qù。
He rang for the guard to let him out.
10
他的嘴微微张开,似乎是要开始尖叫.
tā de zuǐ wēi wēi zhāng kāi, , sì hū shì yào kāi shǐ jiān.
His mouth was a little open, as if he'd started to scream.
Cultural Notes for 叫
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 叫
Words Containing This Character20
叫jiàoto shout
叫做to be called
尖叫to screech
呼叫to shout
名叫called
叫醒to awaken
叫声barking叫聲
叫嚣to hoot叫囂
惨叫to scream慘叫
叫好jiàohǎoto applaud
叫喊outcry
大喊大叫to rant
惊叫to cry out in fear驚叫
喊叫to cry out
叫作jiàozuòto call
吼叫to howl
叫卖to peddle叫賣
叫嚷to shout
乱叫to inconsiderately shout亂叫
叫板jiàobǎn(coll.) to challenge
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 叫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 叫
It generally means 'to call' or 'to shout,' and can indicate how one is named.
It's best to avoid 叫 in formal contexts; instead, use terms like 称呼 (chēnghū) for addressing someone respectfully.
You can say '我叫 [name]' to introduce yourself, meaning 'My name is [name].'
