符号

• Pinyin: fú hào
• Hanzi breakdown: 符 = ⺮ (bamboo) + 付 (deliver) — a bamboo tally for identification; 号 = 口 (mouth) + 丂 — a designation or call

Meaning

Symbol; sign; mark. A written or printed character that represents something by convention.

Covers a wide range of symbols: punctuation marks (标点符号), mathematical symbols, musical notation, and digital icons. Also used figuratively to mean something that represents or stands for a concept, as in 他成了成功的符号 (he became a symbol of success).

Examples

1. 请在句子末尾加上正确的标点符号。 Please add the correct punctuation mark at the end of the sentence.
2. 这个符号代表什么意思？ What does this symbol mean?
3. 地图上有很多不同的符号。 There are many different symbols on the map.

Usage Guide

Context: academic, technology

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 数学中有很多特殊的符号。(There are many special symbols in mathematics.)
• 这个符号在不同的国家有不同的意思。(This symbol has different meanings in different countries.)

Don't Say

• 他给我做了一个符号 (Don't use 符号 for gestures or signals — use 手势 for gestures or 信号 for signals; 符号 refers to written or printed marks)

Origin & History

符 originally referred to bamboo tallies split in half for verification; 号 means mark or designation. Together: an agreed-upon mark that conveys meaning.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal