‘叫好’ is a verb meaning ‘to cheer’ or ‘to applaud’—literally ‘to call good’. The first character 叫 means ‘to call’ or ‘to shout’, and the second character 好 means ‘good’. Together, they express vocal approval, typically in live settings like performances, speeches, or sports events. It emphasizes enthusiastic, audible praise rather than silent appreciation.

This term is commonly used in contexts where an audience expresses collective approval: theatergoers might 叫好 after a dazzling acrobatic stunt; students may 叫好 when a classmate gives a witty answer. While it can be used transitively (e.g., 叫好声不断), it’s most frequently intransitive and appears in phrases like 现场观众纷纷叫好 (the live audience cheered repeatedly). It carries a warm, lively connotation and is neutral in register—suitable for both spoken and written descriptions of public enthusiasm.