Chinese word

称

Pronunciation

Pinyinchēng

Meaning

  • verbcall

Example

很多人称他为专家。hěn duō rén chēng tā wèi zhuān jiā

Many people call him an expert.

Illustration for 称 (call)

More examples

妈妈喜欢用“宝宝”来称呼孩子。mā mā xǐ huān yòng báo bǎo lái chēng hū hái zi

Mom likes to call her child "baby."

Core concept

A label is attached to a person or thing, often showing the role or identity it is understood to have.

Common phrases

  • 称呼chēng hū

    call

Similar words

叫jiào: Call someone by name or address them in a natural, everyday way.
叫做jiào zuò: Have a particular name or title, using a familiar spoken expression.

Definition in Chinese

称呼某人或某物，或把其视作某种身份、名称。chēng hū mǒu rén huò mǒu wù huò bǎ qí shì zuò móu zhǒng shēn fèn míng chēng

Word origin

称 (chēng, "to call") is related to the old idea of weighing or measuring something and fixing its value, which extended to fixing a name or status for a person or thing.

Usage tips

  • After this verb, the assigned name or role often follows the person or thing, so Chinese sentences can be read from the person or thing to its label.

Other meanings

  • nameverb
  • considerverb

Word lists with this word