Definition
称 (chēng) has three main meanings: 'to weigh', 'to call/address as', and 'to claim'. For addressing someone, 称 is more formal than 叫 (jiào, HSK1) — use 叫 in everyday speech and 称 in writing or formal contexts. 称呼 (chēnghu, HSK6) is the specific verb for 'to address (by title)' and also a noun meaning 'form of address'.
verb
to weigh (on a scale)to callto nameto address asto claimto state
Easily confused
- 秒miǎolook-alike(classifier) second (unit of time)
- 成chéngsound-alike(classifier) tenth, ten percent (used after a number 1–9)
- 你nǐlook-alikeyou (informal, singular)
- 城chéngsound-alikecity; town
- 撑chēngsound-aliketo support, prop up, or open (an umbrella, etc.)
- 乘chéngsound-aliketo ride (a vehicle), to mount
- 乘chéngsound-aliketo ride; to travel by; to take (a vehicle)
- 呈chéngsound-aliketo submit (to a superior); to formally present
- 盛chéngsound-aliketo ladle, to fill (a bowl/plate) with food or liquid
- 秤chèngsound-alikesteelyard; Chinese scale (a balance with a beam and sliding weight)
Examples
- 称。Qǐng bāng wǒ chēng yí xià zhège píngguǒ.Please help me weigh this apple.
- 称。Dàjiā dōu chēng tā Xiǎo Lǐ.Everyone calls him Xiao Li.
- 称。Tā chēng zìjǐ yǐjīng wánchéng le gōngzuò.He claimed that he had already finished the work.
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