称呼 (chēng hu) — (verb) to call, to address (someone as); (noun)… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

As a verb, 称呼 means how you call or address someone (e.g. 称呼他“老张”). As a noun, it is the form of address itself — the title or name used for a person, not a location (that's 地址).

verb

to callto address (someone as)

noun

form of addresstitle

Examples

称呼？
Nǐ yīng gāi zěn me chēng hu nǐ de lǎo shī?
How should you address your teacher?
，称呼。
Zài zhōng guó, duì zhǎng bèi de chēng hu yào zūn jìng.
In China, forms of address for elders should be respectful.
称呼“”。
Dà jiā dōu chēng hu tā "lǎo zhāng".
Everyone calls him Old Zhang.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

称 = call, 呼 = call; together: to call or address.

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.

禾爯稱

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.

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

口乎呼

Meaning part形符xíngfú

口口kǒumouth

Sound part声符shēngfú

乎

乎hū呼hū

Same sound today

呼 uses 口 (mouth) to show exhaling, calling, or shouting, and 乎 gives the sound.

Appears in

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