别号 (bié hào) — alternative name, alias (especially a literary or artistic pseudonym)

Definition

A literary or artistic pseudonym a writer adopts alongside (or instead of) their real name, often poetic. Contrast with 笔名 (bǐmíng), which is a pen name used for publication; 别号 is broader, covering any self-chosen alternate name of literati.

noun
alternative namealias (especially a literary or artistic pseudonym)

Examples

  • 别号“”。
    Zhè wèi zuò jiā de bié hào shì "qīng lián jū shì".
    This writer's alias is 'Qinglian Jushi'.
  • 别号。
    Gǔ dài wén rén cháng yòng bié hào lái shǔ míng.
    Ancient literati often used aliases to sign their works.
  • 别号。
    Tā de bié hào bǐ běn míng gèng yǒu míng.
    His alias is more famous than his real name.

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.

别biéother
号hàoname

别号 is a 号 that is 别, or another, meaning an alias.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 別; 别 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 別 pairs 冎 (bone) with 刀 (knife), showing a knife cutting up bone and flesh. The simplified 别 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical components.

Open 别 →

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 →

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