Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== hào: 号 - Number, Date, Size, Mark ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** hao Chinese character, what does hao mean in Chinese, 号, hào, number in Chinese, Chinese word for size, how to say the date in Chinese, Chinese measure word, 号码, 号 vs 日, Chinese for beginners * **Summary:** The Chinese character 号 (hào) is a fundamental and versatile word essential for everyday life in China. Primarily meaning "number," it is used for everything from phone numbers and room numbers to specifying a date in spoken Chinese (e.g., "the 15th"). It also functions as the word for "size" in clothing or coffee (large, medium, small). Understanding how to use 号 (hào) is a key step for any beginner learner to handle practical situations like shopping, making appointments, and reading addresses. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** hào (also pronounced háo as a verb) * **Part of Speech:** Noun, Measure Word, Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 1 * **Concise Definition:** A mark, sign, number, or size; also, the day of the month in spoken language. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of 号 (hào) as a label or a designator. It's the character you use to point to a specific item in a numbered sequence. Whether it's the 5th day of the month (五号), Room 101 (101号), or a large-sized T-shirt (大号), 号 attaches to a number or a descriptor to specify "which one." ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **号 (hào):** This character is a combination of two parts. * **口 (kǒu):** The top part is the character for "mouth." * **[Lower Part]:** The bottom component is a phonetic element that originally depicted a person kneeling, suggesting a kind of order or command. * When combined, 口 (mouth) and the lower part evoke the idea of something being "called out" or "announced." This relates to its verb meaning, **háo**, "to yell" or "to cry out." From this idea of calling something out, the meaning evolved to represent the "name" or "number" that is announced, which is the common noun meaning, **hào**. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== * **Spoken Dates vs. Written Dates:** One of the most important cultural nuances of 号 is its use for dates. In spoken, everyday Chinese, people almost always use 号 to refer to the day of the month (e.g., "今天几号?" - "What's the date today?"). This is the colloquial standard. Its counterpart, [[日]] (rì), means the same thing but is used in formal, written contexts like news headlines, official documents, and expiration dates. * **Comparison to English:** Think of the difference between saying "December twenty-five" (like 号) versus "the twenty-fifth of December" (like 日). The first is more casual and common in speech, while the second feels slightly more formal or traditional. Using 号 for dates immediately makes your spoken Chinese sound more natural and less like you're reading from a textbook. * **Historical Names:** In ancient China, scholars, artists, and officials often took a "style name" or "literary name" called a 号 (hào). This was a pseudonym used in their professional or creative life, separate from their birth name. This shows the character's deeper connection to identity and naming beyond just numbers. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== * 号 is an extremely common character used in many practical, modern situations. === As a Number/Identifier === * This is its most frequent use. It follows a number to indicate it's an identifier for something. * **Phone Number:** 电话号码 (diànhuà hàomǎ) * **Room Number:** 房间号 (fángjiān hào) * **License Plate Number:** 车牌号 (chēpái hào) * **Seat Number:** 座位号 (zuòwèi hào) === For Dates === * Used colloquially for the day of the month. * "October 1st" is spoken as 十月一号 (Shíyuè yī hào). * "What's the date today?" is 今天几号？(Jīntiān jǐ hào?). === For Sizes === * When buying clothes, coffee, or other products with size options. * **Large Size:** 大号 (dà hào) * **Medium Size:** 中号 (zhōng hào) * **Small Size:** 小号 (xiǎo hào) === As a Mark or Symbol === * It can refer to a punctuation mark or other symbols. * **Period/Full Stop:** 句号 (jùhào) * **Question Mark:** 问号 (wènhào) * **Exclamation Mark:** 感叹号 (gǎntànhào) ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 你的电话**号**码是多少？ * Pinyin: Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo? * English: What is your phone number? * Analysis: Here, 号 is part of the essential compound word 号码 (hàomǎ), which specifically means "number" in the context of an ID or code. * **Example 2:** * 今天是十月二十五**号**。 * Pinyin: Jīntiān shì shíyuè èrshíwǔ hào. * English: Today is October 25th. * Analysis: This is the standard, conversational way to state the date. Using 日 (rì) here would sound overly formal or robotic in a normal conversation. * **Example 3:** * 我要一杯中**号**的拿铁。 * Pinyin: Wǒ yào yībēi zhōng hào de nátiě. * English: I want a medium-sized latte. * Analysis: In a café or fast-food restaurant, you use 大/中/小 (dà/zhōng/xiǎo) followed by 号 to specify the size. * **Example 4:** * 我的房间**号**是808。 * Pinyin: Wǒ de fángjiān hào shì bā líng bā. * English: My room number is 808. * Analysis: 号 directly follows the number to clarify that "808" is an identifier for a room. * **Example 5:** * 这件T恤有大**号**的吗？ * Pinyin: Zhè jiàn T-xù yǒu dà hào de ma? * English: Do you have this T-shirt in a large size? * Analysis: A very practical sentence for shopping. "大号的" (dà hào de) means "the large-sized one." * **Example 6:** * 请问，去上海的火车在几**号**站台？ * Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, qù Shànghǎi de huǒchē zài jǐ hào zhàntái? * English: Excuse me, which platform is the train to Shanghai on? * Analysis: Used here to ask for the platform "number" at a train station. * **Example 7:** * 每个句子的结尾都要用句**号**。 * Pinyin: Měi gè jùzi de jiéwěi dōu yào yòng jùhào. * English: You must use a period at the end of every sentence. * Analysis: This shows 号 being used in the word for a punctuation "mark," 句号 (jùhào). * **Example 8:** * 他是今天的三**号**病人。 * Pinyin: Tā shì jīntiān de sān hào bìngrén. * English: He is today's third patient. * Analysis: Here, 号 functions as a measure word to indicate order or sequence in a line or queue. * **Example 9:** * 你的航班**号**是多少？ * Pinyin: Nǐ de hángbān hào shì duōshǎo? * English: What is your flight number? * Analysis: Similar to phone and room numbers, 号 is used for any kind of identification code. * **Example 10:** * 他的外**号**叫“小胖”。 * Pinyin: Tā de wàihào jiào “Xiǎo Pàng”. * English: His nickname is "Little Fatty". * Analysis: Here, 号 is part of 外号 (wàihào), or "nickname," linking back to its meaning of a name or title. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Mistake 1: Confusing 号 (hào) and 日 (rì) for dates.** * This is the most common pitfall for learners. Remember the rule: **Speak with 号, write with 日.** * **Correct (Spoken):** 我生日是三月五**号**。(Wǒ shēngrì shì sānyuè wǔ hào.) * **Correct (Written/Formal):** 会议日期：三月五**日**。(Huìyì rìqī: Sānyuè wǔ rì.) * **Incorrect:** In a conversation, saying "我生日是三月五日" sounds unnatural. Saying "三月五日号" is also wrong; you use one or the other, never both. * **Mistake 2: Confusing 号 (hào) and 码 (mǎ).** * While often used together in 号码 (hàomǎ), they aren't always interchangeable. 号 is broader and can mean "size" or "date." 码 (mǎ) is more closely related to "code" (密码 mìmǎ - password) or "yard" (as in measurement). For things like phone numbers or ID numbers, use the full word 号码 or just 号. * **Mistake 3: The Pronunciation Difference.** * While 95% of the time you encounter this character it will be **hào (4th tone)**, be aware that when used as a verb meaning "to cry loudly" or "to wail," it is pronounced **háo (2nd tone)**. * **Example:** 他在放声大**嚎**。(Tā zài fàngshēng dà háo.) - He is wailing loudly. * For a beginner, focus on the **hào** pronunciation, but be aware that the other exists so you are not confused if you hear it. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[号码]] (hàomǎ) - The most direct compound word, meaning "number" (as in a phone number, serial number, etc.). * [[日]] (rì) - The formal, written equivalent of 号 for the day of the month. The opposite in terms of formality. * [[数字]] (shùzì) - The abstract concept of a "digit" or "numeral." You use 数字 to talk about mathematics, but you use 号 to label something with a number. * [[大小]] (dàxiǎo) - The general word for "size." You ask "什么大小?" (What size?), and the answer would be "大号" (Large size). * [[口号]] (kǒuhào) - A "slogan." This uses the "mouth" (口) and "call out" (号) meanings. * [[符号]] (fúhào) - A "symbol" or "mark." This highlights the "mark" meaning of 号. * [[天]] (tiān) - Means "day" but is used for duration or counting days (e.g., 三天 - three days), not for a specific calendar date like 号 or 日. * [[外号]] (wàihào) - A "nickname," showing the "name" or "title" aspect of 号.