HSK1 Grammar: Basic verb “是” “叫”
1. Grammar Introduction
是 (shì) and 叫 (jiào) are two fundamental verbs in Chinese used to express identity and naming.
Using 是 (shì) – “to be”
Subject + 是 + Noun/Identity
是 is used to indicate identity, profession, nationality, or to equate two nouns. It’s equivalent to the English verb “to be” (am/is/are) when linking a subject to a noun.
Usage scenarios:
- Introducing yourself or others: “I am a student”
- Stating nationality: “He is Chinese”
- Identifying professions: “She is a teacher”
- Describing relationships: “This is my friend”
Using 叫 (jiào) – “to be called/named”
Subject + 叫 + Name
叫 is specifically used to state someone’s name or what something is called. It’s equivalent to “to be called” or “to be named” in English.
Usage scenarios:
- Introducing names: “My name is John”
- Asking for names: “What is your name?”
- Naming objects or places: “This book is called…”
2. Example Sentences
我是Yuli。
我
(I/me)
是
(am/is)
Yuli
(Yuli)
English: I am Yuli.
他是老师。
他
(he/him)
是
(is)
老师
(teacher)
English: He is a teacher.
她是学生。
她
(she/her)
是
(is)
学生
(student)
English: She is a student.
他们是中国人。
他们
(they/them)
是
(are)
中国人
(Chinese people)
English: They are Chinese.
她们是美国人。
她们
(they/them-female)
是
(are)
美国人
(American people)
English: They are American.
她叫李月。
她
(she/her)
叫
(is called)
李月
(Li Yue)
English: Her name is Li Yue.
他叫王明。
他
(he/him)
叫
(is called)
王明
(Wang Ming)
English: His name is Wang Ming.
3. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Sentence Ordering
Click the words to form correct sentences.
1. I am a student.
我
(I)
是
(am)
学生
(student)
2. His name is Wang Ming.
他
(he)
叫
(is called)
王明
(name)
3. They are Chinese.
他们
(they)
是
(are)
中国人
(Chinese)
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Question 1: He is a teacher.
Question 2: She is a student.
Question 3: Her name is Li Yue.
Question 4: They are American.
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Question 1: Listen and type what you hear
Question 2: Listen and type what you hear
Question 3: Listen and translate to English
Question 4: Listen and translate to English
4. Vocabulary List
Verbs (动词)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 是 | shì | to be, am/is/are | |
| 叫 | jiào | to be called, to be named |
Nouns (名词)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student | |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | |
| 中国人 | Zhōngguó rén | Chinese (people) | |
| 美国人 | Měiguó rén | American (people) |
Pronouns (代词)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他们 | tāmen | they/them | |
| 她们 | tāmen | they/them (female) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t confuse 是 and 叫: Use 是 for identity/profession (I am a teacher), use 叫 specifically for names (My name is…).
- Word order matters: Unlike English, Chinese doesn’t need “a/an” before nouns. “我是学生” (I am student) is correct.
- Don’t add extra words: Don’t say “我是叫王明” – this is redundant. Use either “我是王明” or “我叫王明”.
- Remember the difference: 他们 (tāmen) is used for mixed groups or male groups, while 她们 (tāmen) is specifically for all-female groups.
- Tone is important: 是 (shì) is 4th tone, 叫 (jiào) is also 4th tone. Wrong tones can change meaning!
🎉
Great job on completing this lesson!
Practice these sentences daily to master
“是” and “叫”
加油！(jiā yóu – Keep going!)
