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I understand for the most part, (perhaps not as a causative word like shi, rang, bei etc ENTIRELY..) how to use 叫　and when trying to see the difference between 叫　and 称为　　, I noticed that people compared 称为　with 叫做　, a term I had not actually seen before.

My question is, what is the difference between the inclusion/exclusion of the word 做　in 叫做　?

Also, as a bonus, does any one want to validate my research, and let me know if 称为　vs 叫做 is a matter of more formal writing and not convention ?

Or is it a more spoken vs written distinction as I beleeve the distinction between 叫做　and 叫作　　exists as ? Is this distinction only in Cantonese? I wonder because my Mandarin ABC input keyboard on Windows doesn't recognize the latter as a compound word.

Thank you!

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8
  • 叫：be called 你叫什么[名字]？ NP+叫+NP，NP's name is NP, people introducing themselves say 我叫。。。 这叫拖拉机 他不知道什么叫干净. 叫做：be called, be known as,人类叫做理性动物,将(把)人类叫做理性动物, 把...称为, 把...命名为,他被人们叫做收藏家,
    – user6065
    Jul 4, 2017 at 23:31
  • Okay, I understand to a certain extent. I am unfamiliar with the 把 structure in its entirety, so I am a little confused. I like your examples though. I also understand about 命名..I guess if you do not use 被　it implies that the speaker named the object?? Example: 強渦流被稱為Maelstrom ..if remove 被　does it still make sense? But the meaning changes?
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 4, 2017 at 23:36
  • 強渦流被稱為。。。 or 强涡流叫（叫做，称为）。。。all seem possible, in particular 被 with 称为 seems unnecessary, more examples: 商品的普通销售价格称为市价,他才可称为老师,各种物质，不论它是什么，都是由一些称为分子的很小的粒子构成的（notional passive, 被 :formal passive, anyhow frequent use of 被 may be a modern feature)
    – user6065
    Jul 5, 2017 at 0:32
  • What did you mean by NP, noun particle? I was confused, but, I decided to ask instead of guessing..
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 5, 2017 at 18:52
  • 我在后面叫你，但是你没有听到。 As for that sentence, can one omit the 有 in 没有? I know it is somewhat off topic, but, it really will help me. Thank you.
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 5, 2017 at 19:13

1 Answer 1

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叫= to call / be called

我叫彼得 could mean:

  1. 'I call Peter (e.g. I make a phone call to Peter) '

  2. 'I am called Peter (my name is Peter)'

叫做 = be called as

我叫做彼得 = I am called as Peter (my name is Peter) - no ambiguity here

称= [1] [v] call; name; term; address as [2] [v] say; state; express; claim

  • 人称(为) = people call (him/ her/ it) as

  • 自称(为) = call oneself as / self proclaim as

  • 称为 = be called as

Abe Shudug wrote:

Could you please also clarify how it becomes him/her/it with 人称为 ? Maybe an example sentence..do you mean 他　她　它　　ｎｅｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｄｄｅｄ?　　Ｏｒ　为　serves that function ??

Some examples:

(他/她)被人稱為天下無敵 = (他/她)人稱天下無敵

被人稱為 is often shortened to 人稱

(他/她)自稱為天下無敵 = (他/她)自稱天下無敵

自稱為 if often shortened to 自稱

[他/她/它] is the object, which is needed in a complete sentence.

为 acts as the conjunction 'as'(without antecedent) in the degree, manner

称为 is more literal; 叫做 is more colloquial

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4
  • What about the difference between 叫做　and 叫作　, I saw the latter on MDBG.net I am not sure if that has an actual usage. Cheers :)
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 5, 2017 at 18:01
  • 我在后面叫你，但是你没有听到。 As for that sentence, can one omit the 有 in 没有? I know it is somewhat off topic, but, it really will help me. Thank you.
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 5, 2017 at 19:12
  • Could you please also clarify how it becomes him/her/it with 人称为 ? Maybe an example sentence..do you mean 他　她　它　　ｎｅｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｄｄｅｄ?　　Ｏｒ　为　serves that function ??
    – Abe Shudug
    Jul 5, 2017 at 19:57
  • See the edition at the bottom of my post
    – Tang Ho ♦
    Jul 5, 2017 at 20:45

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