hào: 号 - Number, Date, Size, Mark

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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.

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.”

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.

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.

号 is an extremely common character used in many practical, modern situations.

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.