How to Write 号 (háo/hào) — Meaning “number, mark, call”

Q: How can I remember the character 号?

Imagine a mouth (口) shouting out a number, and the bottom stroke looks like a hook pulling the sound down. This visual trick helps you recall that 号 means 'number' or 'call'.

Q: What should I watch out for when writing 号?

Write the top 口 as three strokes (left vertical, top horizontal, bottom horizontal) then add two more strokes below: a horizontal line and a vertical hook. A common mistake is making the bottom part look like 亏 (three strokes) — but 号 uses only two strokes below the mouth.

Q: How is 号 different from the similar characters 卟 and 口?

口 is just a single box meaning 'mouth', while 号 adds a hook below to form a different word. 卟 (bǔ) is very rare and combines 口 with 卜 (divination) — it appears only in technical terms like '卟啉', unlike the common 号 used for numbers and marks.

Q: When is 号 used in modern Chinese?

号 appears in everyday words like 号码 (hàomǎ, 'number') for phone numbers or sizes, and 记号 (jìhao, 'mark') for signs. It also describes loud crying in 哀号 (āiháo, 'wail'), showing its old connection to calling out.

Q: What common words use 号?

Common words containing 号 include: 号码 (hào mǎ) — number; 记号 (jì hào) — mark; sign; 哀号 (āi háo) — To wail; to howl in grief..

háo/hào HSK Level 1 5 strokes Radical: 口

号 (háo/hào) means "number, mark, call" in Chinese. It has 5 strokes with the radical 口, and is HSK Level 1.

Rated 2.4/5 in difficulty (moderate).

Harder than 30% of HSK Level 1 characters.

Appears in 4+ common words including 号码 (hào mǎ), 记号 (jì hào), 哀号 (āi háo).

Hanzi Writer's stroke validation shows learners typically need 5-8 attempts to write 号 with correct proportion and order.

Practice Writing 号 (háo/hào)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 号 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 号

The character 号 (háo/hào) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 口 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does háo/hào (号) Mean in Chinese?

号 means number, mark, call.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: háo, hào.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 号 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Character Data

Character	号
Pinyin	háo / hào (hao)
Meaning	number, mark, call
Strokes	5
Radical	口
HSK Level	1
Difficulty	2.4/5

Origin of 号

The character 号 combines the radical 口 (mouth, representing sound or speech) with 丂, an ancient pictograph of a curved horn or wind instrument that produces a loud call. Originally meaning "to roar" or "shout," it later extended to signify a "mark" or "number" used for identification, as in a designated call sign.

💡 Memory Tip: Imagine a mouth (口) blowing a curved horn (丂) to announce someone's number in a loud call.

Common Words with 号

号码 hào mǎ

number

记号 jì hào

mark; sign

哀号 āi háo

To wail; to howl in grief.

怒号 nù háo

To roar or howl (referring to wind, waves, or voices).

Example Sentences

请记下我办公室的电话号码。

qǐng jì xià wǒ bàn gōng shì de diàn huà hào mǎ

Please write down my office phone number.

他在书上重点的地方做了记号。

tā zài shū shàng zhòng diǎn de dì fāng zuò le jì hào

He made marks on the important parts of the book.

失去亲人的痛苦让他忍不住大声哀号。

shī qù qīn rén de tòng kǔ ràng tā rěn bú zhù dà shēng āi háo

The pain of losing a loved one made him unable to stop wailing loudly.

狂风在冬日的夜晚剧烈怒号。

kuáng fēng zài dōng rì de yè wǎn jù liè nù háo

The gale howled fiercely on the winter night.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Radical
号 (current)	háo / hào	5	口
卟	bǔ	5	口
口	kǒu	3	口
古	gǔ	5	口

Practice Writing 号 (háo/hào)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 号 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 号

What is the structure of the character 号?

号 is made of two parts: the radical 口 (mouth) on top and a curved stroke 丂 below. The mouth radical suggests calling or shouting, while the bottom part originally represented a curved hook or mark, together giving meanings like 'number' or 'call'.

How can I remember the character 号?

What should I watch out for when writing 号?

How is 号 different from the similar characters 卟 and 口?

When is 号 used in modern Chinese?

What common words use 号?

How to Write 号 (háo/hào) — Meaning “number, mark, call”

Practice Writing 号 (háo/hào)

How to Write 号

What Does háo/hào (号) Mean in Chinese?

Character Data

Origin of 号

Common Words with 号

Example Sentences

Similar Characters Comparison

Practice Writing 号 (háo/hào)

Frequently Asked Questions about 号

More HSK Level 1 Characters

Characters with Radical 口

Other 5-Stroke Characters