书号 (shū háo) — book registration number; call number (library classification); ISBN (International Standard Book Number)

Definition

书号 covers both the publisher-assigned ISBN and a library's call number used for shelving. It is the umbrella term for any identifying number attached to a book.

noun
book registration numbercall number (library classification)ISBN (International Standard Book Number)

Examples

  • 书号。
    Měi běn shū dōu yǒu yí gè wéi yī de shū háo.
    Every book has a unique ISBN.
  • 书号。
    Qǐng gào sù wǒ zhè běn shū de shū háo.
    Please tell me the call number of this book.
  • 书号。
    Tú shū guǎn de shū háo xì tǒng hěn fāng biàn.
    The library's call number system is very convenient.

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.

书shūbook
号hàonumber

书 identifies the item as a book, and 号 gives the number assigned to it.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →

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 →

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