Meaning and Usage
The verb 呼ぶ (よぶ) primarily means "to call" someone by name or to summon someone. It is a very common verb used in everyday conversation when you want to get someone's attention or refer to them by their name.
Common Contexts
- Calling someone's name directly, e.g., calling a friend or family member.
- Summoning or requesting someone, such as calling a teacher or a taxi.
- Can also be used in contexts like "calling out" or "inviting".
Collocations and Patterns
- 名前を呼ぶ (なまえをよぶ): to call someone by their name.
- 先生を呼ぶ (せんせいをよぶ): to call the teacher.
- タクシーを呼ぶ (たくしーをよぶ): to call a taxi.
Register and Politeness
呼ぶ is a neutral verb and can be used in both casual and polite contexts. When making requests, it is common to add ください (please) for politeness, e.g., 先生を呼んでください.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 呼ぶ with 言う (いう, to say) when trying to express "to call someone by a name." Remember, 呼ぶ is used for calling or summoning, while 言う is for saying or telling words.