标志

• Pinyin: biāo zhì
• Hanzi breakdown: 标 = 木 (wood) + phonetic component, meaning mark/sign; 志 = 士 (scholar) + 心 (heart), meaning record/aspiration

Meaning

Mark; sign; symbol; logo. Something that identifies or represents a thing, event, or concept.

Used for physical signs (road signs, logos, brand marks), symbolic markers (a milestone event), and abstract symbols (a symbol of progress). Can function as a noun (the sign itself) or a verb (to signify, to mark). Very common in both everyday and formal contexts.

Examples

1. 这个红色的标志表示禁止停车。 This red sign means no parking.
2. 长城是中国最有名的标志之一。 The Great Wall is one of China's most famous symbols.
3. 这次成功标志着我们进入了一个新的阶段。 This success marks our entry into a new phase.

Usage Guide

Context: traffic, branding, milestones

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 开车要注意看路上的标志。(When driving, pay attention to the signs on the road.)
• 这是我们公司的标志。(This is our company's logo.)

Don't Say

• 把标志和标记完全等同 (Don't use 标志 and 标记 interchangeably — 标志 is a symbol or emblem, while 标记 is a specific mark or notation)

Origin & History

A compound of 标 (mark, label) and 志 (record, aspiration). Together they describe something that serves as a recognisable marker or symbol.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal