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代号 (dài hào) — code name; codename

Definition

代号 is a formal/official codename used for projects, operations, or in chat handles (e.g. “Project ‘Polaris’”). 别于 绰号/外号, which are informal nicknames people give each other.

noun
code namecodename
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 代号“”。
    Zhè cì jūn shì xíng dòng de dài hào shì "yè yīng".
    The codename for this military operation is "Night Hawk".
  • 代号“”。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù de dài hào shì "běi jí xīng".
    The codename for this project is "Polaris".
  • 代号。
    Tā men zài liáo tiān lǐ dōu yǒu zì jǐ de dài hào.
    They each have their own codename in the chat.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

代dàisubstitute; represent
号hàonumber; name

代 means substitute or represent and 号 is a number or name, together giving a code name.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
弋
弋yì代dài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 代, 亻 shows a person, and 弋 gives the sound.

Open 代 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 口口kǒumouth
  • 丂丂kǎoexhaled air; a tiger's cry

The shape 号 comes from 口, a mouth, and 丂, exhaled air or a tiger's cry.

Open 号 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.