叫
someone is called…
Structure
主语 + 叫 + 名字
What it means
叫 jiào means “to be called”: it gives someone's name.
How it is built
Subject + 叫 + name: 我叫王明 (My name is Wang Ming). Ask with 什么 in the answer's place: 她叫什么名字？ (What's her name?)
When to use it
Give a Chinese name in full, surname first. 我是王明 (I'm Wang Ming) also works to introduce yourself. To an older person, the polite question is 您贵姓？, which comes later.
Watch out
The question needs 叫, not 是: ✗ 你是什么名字？ ✓ 你叫什么名字？
Examples
我叫王明。
My name is Wang Ming.
她叫什么名字？
What’s her name?
我的朋友叫李月。
My friend is called Li Yue.
Learn this in 启蒙 · Lesson 8: 你叫什么名字 (Names and phone numbers)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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