符号 (fú hào) — symbol, sign, mark | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

符号 is a written or visual 'symbol' (math signs, logos, conventional marks) — broader than 标志, which is specifically a sign/logo identifying something. Pairs with 象征 for abstract ideas (和平的符号).

noun

symbolsignmark

Measure word · 个

Examples

符号。
Zhè ge shù xué fú hào biǎo shì jiā fǎ.
This mathematical symbol represents addition.
符号。
Lù biān de fú hào tí xǐng sī jī jiǎn sù màn xíng.
The sign by the road reminds drivers to slow down.
符号。
Gē zi shì hé píng de fú hào.
The dove is a symbol of peace.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

符fúsymbol

符 and 号 both denote marks or signs, so together they mean a symbol.

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.

𥫗付符

Meaning part形符xíngfú

𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

付

付fù符fú

Same sound today

符 puts the bamboo form 竹, written 𥫗 on top, above 付, which gives the sound.

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

口丂号

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

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