号

• Pinyin: hào
• Hanzi breakdown: 号 = 口 (mouth) + 丂 — originally meant to shout, extended to mean a label or number

Meaning

Number; date (of the month). Used for numbering and for specifying dates in spoken Chinese.

In everyday speech, 号 is the most common way to say the date: 三月五号 (March 5th). It is also used for numbering: 三号线 (Line 3), 五号楼 (Building 5). In formal writing, 日 replaces 号 for dates.

Examples

1. 今天是三月二十号。 Today is March 20th.
2. 你的电话号是多少？ What is your phone number?
3. 我住在五号楼。 I live in Building 5.

Usage Guide

Context: dates, everyday, numbering

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 今天几号？(What's the date today?)
• 我的手机号是138开头的。(My phone number starts with 138.)

Don't Say

• 在正式文件上写三月五号 (In formal writing, use 日 instead of 号 — write 三月五日)

Origin & History

The character 号 originally meant 'to shout' or 'a name/title'. Its use for numbers is a later extension. The traditional form 號 shows a tiger roaring.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal