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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/zh-my-name-is

How do you say 'My name is Tom' in Mandarin Chinese?

Wǒ jiào Tom (我叫 Tom), I am called Tom.

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  1. Wǒ shì lǎoshī (我是老师)
  2. Wǒ yào Tom (我要 Tom)
  3. Wǒ jiào Tom (我叫 Tom) ✔

Why: Jiào means 'to be called', so wǒ jiào plus your name introduces you. Wǒ yào means I want, and wǒ shì lǎoshī means I am a teacher.

Huh, didn't know that: You can also say wǒ shì plus your full name, 'I am...', which Peace Corps teaches too.

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References

Answer: Wǒ jiào Tom (我叫 Tom). Jiào means 'to be called', so wǒ jiào plus your name introduces you. Wǒ yào means I want, and wǒ shì lǎoshī means I am a teacher.

  1. Peace Corps China, Chinese Basic Lessons for Invitees (Mandarin) files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/thepeoplesrepublicofchina/CN_Mandarin_Language_Lessons.pdf
    I’m called Zhang Wei.
    Checked 2026-10-12.
  2. MDBG Chinese Dictionary (CC-CEDICT): 叫 www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdrst=0&wdqb=%E5%8F%AB
    to be called
    Checked 2026-10-12.

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