HSK 4

把 N1 叫作 N2

bǎ N1 jiàozuò N2

call N1 N2

Structure

Subject + 把 + Object (N1) + 叫作 + Name/Title (N2)

How it works

This structure is used to indicate what something or someone is named or commonly referred to as. It highlights the relationship between the object (N1) and its designated name or title (N2).

Examples

人们把这种水果叫作草莓。

Rénmen bǎ zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ jiàozuò cǎoméi.

People call this kind of fruit strawberry.

我们常把书本叫作知识的海洋。

Wǒmen cháng bǎ shūběn jiàozuò zhīshì de hǎiyáng.

We often call books an ocean of knowledge.

你可以把这个年轻人叫作小王。

Nǐ kěyǐ bǎ zhège niánqīngrén jiàozuò Xiǎo Wáng.

You can call this young man Xiao Wang.

Common mistakes

Forgetting the '把' (bǎ) marker and attempting to use a standard SVO structure, resulting in '人们叫作这种水果草莓' which is grammatically incorrect in this specific pattern.

Tip

Think of '作' (zuò) here as meaning 'as'. You are literally 'calling N1 as N2'.

More HSK 4 grammar

不仅 S1……，S2 也……V 完从来不 V 刚 + V + DURATION 即使……也……(在) N 上正好 V 得正好

See 把 N1 叫作 N2 in real Chinese

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