Question 1

What does 号 mean in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

号 (hào) is the Chinese word for 'number' in the sense of an identifying label — a date, room, size, phone, or rank. Its most common HSK 1 use is the day of the month: 五月三号 'May 3rd.' In speech, dates are almost always given with 号; the written form 日 (rì) shows up in newspapers, official documents, and formal writing. 号 also labels other identifiers: 几号 'what number / what day,' 房号 'room number,' 大号/小号 'large/small size,' 几号楼 'which building.'

Two notes for English speakers: first, 号 comes AFTER the number (三号, not 号三). Second, when asking 'what's the date today?' the natural phrasing is 今天几号? — using 号, not 日.

Question 2

How do you pronounce 号?

Accepted Answer

号 is pronounced hào — 号 (hào).

Question 3

Is 号 a noun, verb, or something else?

Accepted Answer

号 is a noun, register: spoken. In dates, 号 is the spoken/everyday word; 日 (rì) is the written/formal equivalent. Newspapers, official documents, and signs prefer 日; conversations and texts almost always use 号.

Question 4

What is the measure word for 号?

Accepted Answer

Use 个 (gè). Example: 一个号 — general counting.

Question 5

What's the difference between 号 and 好?

Accepted Answer

Looks similar in handwriting but 好 means 'good' and is pronounced hǎo (third tone). 号 is hào (fourth tone). Different character, different tone, different meaning.

Question 6

What's the difference between 号 and 月?

Accepted Answer

月 is 'month,' 号 is 'date.' Order matters: 五月三号 (May 3rd) — month first, date second.

号

What does 号 mean?

Character breakdown

Measure word for 号

Example sentences

Common phrases with 号

Synonyms

Don't confuse 号 with

FAQ

Hear 号 in real Chinese, not in a flashcard.