人称…
known to all as …; people call him …
Structure
人物 ＋ 特点或事迹 ， 人称 “外号”
What it means
“Known to all as; people call him”: introduces a nickname or honorary title. Short for 人们称（他为）.
How it is built
Person + trait or deed，人称 + “nickname”: 宋江仗义疏财，人称“及时雨” (Song Jiang gave freely to those in need and was known to all as “Timely Rain”).
When to use it
Written or storytelling style; it comes after the description that earned the name. Relatives: 号称 (known as, often a claim) and 素有…之称 (has long been called).
Watch out
No pronoun: ✗人称他“及时雨” ✓人称“及时雨”. Not for real names: ✗老王人称王建国 ✓老王叫王建国. In grammar books 人称 also means “person”: 第一人称.
Examples
宋江仗义疏财，人称“及时雨”。
Song Jiang gave his money freely to those in need and was known to all as “Timely Rain”.
这位老中医看病又快又准，人称“活神仙”。
The old doctor of Chinese medicine diagnoses quickly and accurately; people call him “the living immortal”.
他在股市上很少看走眼，人称“股神”。
He rarely misjudges the stock market and is known as “the Stock God”.
Learn this in Lesson 250 · HSK 9+: 梁山好汉的绰号 (The nicknames of the Water Margin heroes)
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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