外号

• 拼音: wài hào
• 汉字拆解: 外 = 夕 + 卜; 号 = 口 (mouth) + 丂 (a bending shape, phonetic) — to call out, hence name/designation

含义

Nickname; alias. An informal name given to a person by others, usually based on a distinctive trait, habit, or appearance.

Unlike 绰号 (chuòhào), which carries a stronger literary register, 外号 is the everyday spoken word for nickname. It is almost always given by others rather than self-chosen, and can be affectionate, teasing, or mildly derogatory. Common in school, military, and workplace settings. The construction 外号叫... (goes by the nickname of...) is the natural collocation.

例句

1. 他因为跑步特别快，大家给他起了个'闪电'的外号。
2. 这个外号跟了他二十年，就连老同学见面还是这么叫他。
3. 领导平时严肃惯了，背地里员工给他取了个'铁面人'的外号。

用法指南

语境: social, school, workplace, everyday

语气: light

正确说法

• 他的外号叫'书虫'，因为他走路的时候都在看书。(His nickname is 'bookworm' — he reads even while walking.)
• 当面叫人外号要注意分寸，有些人其实不太喜欢被这么叫。(Mind your manners when using someone's nickname to their face — some people actually dislike it.)

错误说法

• 把外号和笔名或艺名混淆 (外号 is informal and given by peers; 笔名 is a pen name and 艺名 is a stage name — both are self-chosen and used professionally)

起源与历史

Compound of 外 (outside, beyond) + 号 (name, designation, call sign). Literally 'a name from outside [the formal name system]' — an informal designation that exists alongside the official given name.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal