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外号 (wài hào) — nickname

Definition

A casual nickname, usually based on a person's looks, habits, or traits. 绰号 is a more literary synonym, often mildly mocking; 称号 is an honorary or official title, not informal.

noun
nickname
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 外号“”。
    Tā de wài hào jiào "dà gè zi".
    His nickname is "Big Guy".
  • 外号。
    Tóng xué men gěi tā qǐ le gè wài hào.
    His classmates gave him a nickname.
  • 外号。
    Wǒ bù xǐ huan bié rén jiào wǒ de wài hào.
    I don't like others calling me by my nickname.

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.

外wàioutside or extra
号hàoname

“外” means outside or extra and “号” means name, together naming a nickname.

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
卜卜bǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
月
月yuè外wài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

外 pairs 卜 with 月, a crescent moon; in its older form, the 卜 part had a horizontal bar extending outward, giving the sense of outside.

Open 外 →

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 7-9Identity & Titles

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