Japanese word

呼ぶ

Pronunciation

Romajiyobu

Meaning

  • verbcall

Example

先生を呼びます。sen sei o yo bi ma su

I call the teacher.

Illustration for 呼ぶ (call)

More examples

弟を呼びます。otōto o yo bi ma su

I call my little brother.

週末は友達を呼んで、家で昼ご飯を食べます。shū matsu wa tomo dachi o yo n de ie de hiru go han o ta be ma su

I invite a friend over and have lunch at home on the weekend.

Core concept

Expresses the act of causing someone to come by addressing them or arranging for their arrival.

Common phrases

  • 名前を呼ぶna mae o yo bu

    call someone's name

  • 友達を呼ぶtomo dachi o yo bu

    invite a friend

  • タクシーを呼ぶta ku shī o yo bu

    call a taxi

  • 助けを呼ぶtasu ke o yo bu

    call for help

Similar words

呼び寄せるyobiyoseru: To cause someone to come to a place from elsewhere.
招くmaneku: To invite someone to come to a place or event.

Definition in Japanese

声をかけたり連絡したりして、人を自分のもとへ来させる。koe o ka ke ta ri ren raku shi ta ri shi te hito o ji bun no mo to e ki sa se ru

Word origin

呼ぶ (yobu) is a native Japanese verb whose written form uses 呼 (ko, "call"), a character borrowed from Chinese rather than a combination of Japanese words.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, 呼ぶ (yobu) applies to people and services, so a person or a taxi can be called even when no telephone call is involved.

Other meanings

  • inviteverb

Related words

Word lists with this word