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称作 (chēng zuò) — to be called; to be known as

Definition

称作 (chēng zuò) is a written-form verb meaning 'to be called / known as', used in formal writing and definitions. It is more formal than the everyday 叫 and more literary than 称为, with no sense of addressing a person (that's 称呼).

verb
to be calledto be known as

Examples

  • 称作。
    Zhè zuò qiáo chēng zuò cháng jiāng dà qiáo.
    This bridge is called the Yangtze River Bridge.
  • 称作？
    Běi jīng yě chēng zuò jīng dū ma?
    Is Beijing also called Jingdu?
  • 称作。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù bèi chēng zuò guó jiā zhòng diǎn xiàng mù.
    This project is called a national key project.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

称chēngcall
作zuòas

称 gives a name, 作 completes it as that name.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Communication & Speech

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