Usage note
“叫”可以表示名字是什么，也可以表示呼唤别人。
“jiào” kěyǐ biǎoshì míngzì shì shénme, yě kěyǐ biǎoshì hūhuàn biérén.
This word is used to say what someone is named or to call out to someone.
Context note
当你想知道别人的名字，或者想引起别人注意时，可以用这个字。它属于与人交流的话题。
Dāng nǐ xiǎng zhīdào biérén de míngzì, huòzhě xiǎng yǐnqǐ biérén zhùyì shí, kěyǐ yòng zhège zì. Tā shǔyú yǔ rén jiāoliú de huàtí.
This word is used when you want to know someone's name or get someone's attention. It belongs to the topic of communicating with people.
5 examples
爸爸叫我吃饭
bàba jiào wǒ chīfàn
Dad calls me for dinner
我叫小明
wǒ jiào xiǎo míng
I am called Xiao Ming
你叫什么名字？
nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
What is your name?
妈妈叫我起床
māma jiào wǒ qǐchuáng
Mom calls me to get up
他叫李老师
tā jiào lǐ lǎoshī
He is called Mr. Li
5 mini stories
爸爸叫我吃饭，我答应了。
bàba jiào wǒ chīfàn, wǒ yìngdān le.
Dad calls me for dinner, I agree.
妈妈叫我起床，我起来了。
māma jiào wǒ qǐchuáng, wǒ qǐlái le.
Mom calls me to get up, I got up.
老师叫我们上课，我们都来了。
shīlǎo jiào wǒmen shàngkè, wǒmen dōu láile.
The teacher calls us for class, we all came.
朋友叫我一起玩，我很高兴。
péngyǒu jiào wǒ yīqǐ wán, wǒ hěn gāoxìng.
Friend calls me to play together, I am very happy.
姐姐叫我一起去公园，我答应了。
jiějie jiào wǒ yīqǐ qù gōngyuán, wǒ yìngdān le.
Sister calls me to go to the park together, I agree.
Mini dialogue
你叫什么名字
A
你好，我叫小明。你叫什么名字？
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào Xiǎo Míng. Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?
Hello, I'm called Xiao Ming. What's your name?
B
我叫小红。
Wǒ jiào Xiǎo Hóng.
I'm called Xiao Hong.
妈妈叫你
A
听，妈妈在叫你。
Tīng, māma zài jiào nǐ.
Listen, Mom is calling you.
B
好的，我马上去。
Hǎo de, wǒ mǎshàng qù.
Okay, I'll go right away.
Related words and contrasts
similar
名字叫
míngzi jiào
name is called
A common way to say 'my name is'.
similar
喊
hǎn
to shout; to call out
喊 is louder than 叫 and often means shouting.
similar
称呼
chēnghu
to address; to call (formal)
A more formal way to say how you address someone.