Chinese word

外号

Pronunciation

Pinyinwài hào

Meaning

  • nounnickname

Example

你的外号叫什么？nǐ de wài hào jiào shén me

What is your nickname?

Illustration for 外号 (nickname)

More examples

很多网民用外号作为社交媒体的用户名。hěn duō wǎng mín yòng wài hào zuò wéi shè jiāo méi tǐ de yòng hù míng

Many internet users use nicknames as their social media usernames.

Core concept

A familiar label given by people around someone to identify that person through a trait, event, joke, or other personal connection.

Common phrases

  • 叫外号jiào wài hào

    call someone by a nickname

  • 起外号qǐ wài hào

    give someone a nickname

  • 被叫外号bèi jiào wài hào

    be given a nickname

Similar words

绰号chuò hào: A nickname from people around someone that often carries a playful or teasing feeling.
昵称nì chēng: A friendly name used by close people or online, either chosen personally or given by others.
别名bié míng: A different name used for a person, place, or thing instead of its official name.
小名xiǎo míng: A loving name used by a family for a young child, especially in early childhood.

Definition in Chinese

指朋友或熟人给某人起的非正式称呼，常带有个性化、调侃或戏谑的意味，用以区分或作为玩笑性的称呼。zhǐ péng yǒu huò shú rén gěi mǒu rén qǐ de fēi zhèng shì chēng hū cháng dài yǒu gè xìng huà tiáo kǎn huò xì xuè de yì wèi yòng yǐ qū fēn huò zuò wéi wán xiào xìng de chēng hū

Word origin

In 外号 (wàihào, "nickname"), 外 (wài, "outside") suggests something beyond the official name, while 号 (hào, "name or title") supplies the idea of an additional name.

Usage tips

  • A warm name used at home and a teasing school label can both fit this word, so the feeling comes from the relationship and context rather than from the word alone.

Other meanings

  • pet namenoun
  • aliasnoun

Opposites

  • 本名běn míngreal namenoun
  • 真名zhēn míngreal namenoun

Related words

  • 外号儿wài hàornicknamenoun

Word lists with this word