diànhuà hàomǎ: 电话号码 - Telephone Number, Phone Number

• Keywords: 电话号码, dianhua haoma, Chinese phone number, telephone number in Chinese, what is your phone number in Chinese, how to say phone number in Chinese, HSK 1, 手机号, shouji hao, China phone number format, lucky numbers China.
• Summary: Learn how to say and use 电话号码 (diànhuà hàomǎ), the essential Chinese word for “phone number.” This guide breaks down the characters, explains the cultural significance of lucky and unlucky numbers in China, and provides practical example sentences. Discover the modern nuances, including the difference between a 电话号码 and a 手机号 (shǒujī hào), and learn the crucial trick of saying “yāo” for the number one. This is a must-know HSK 1 term for daily conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): diànhuà hàomǎ
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A sequence of digits assigned to a telephone line for making calls; a phone number.
• In a Nutshell: 电话号码 (diànhuà hàomǎ) is the standard, formal term for “phone number” in Mandarin Chinese. It's a literal and straightforward compound word that combines “telephone” with “number.” While often shortened in casual speech, understanding this full term is fundamental for any beginner. It's one of the first pieces of personal information you'll learn to exchange in Chinese.

• 电 (diàn): Electricity, electric. The character is a simplified pictogram of a lightning bolt flashing from the clouds, representing pure energy.
• 话 (huà): Speech, talk, words. This character combines the “speech” radical (言 yán) on the left with a phonetic component on the right.
• 号 (hào): Number, sign, symbol, mark.
• 码 (mǎ): Code, number, weight. This character often refers to a number used for identification.

The word is a logical combination of two smaller words: 电话 (diànhuà), meaning “electric speech” or “telephone,” and 号码 (hàomǎ), meaning “number/code.” Put together, 电话号码 (diànhuà hàomǎ) literally means “telephone's number-code,” or simply, “phone number.”

In China, a phone number is more than just a string of digits; it's often imbued with cultural meaning related to numerology and homophones (words that sound alike).

• Lucky vs. Unlucky Numbers: The desirability of a phone number is heavily influenced by the sound of its digits.
  • 8 (八 bā): Sounds like 发 (fā), meaning “to prosper” or “get rich.” A number with many eights is considered extremely lucky and can be very expensive.
  • 6 (六 liù): Sounds like 溜 (liū), meaning “smooth” or “fluid.” It implies that things will go smoothly in life.
  • 4 (四 sì): Sounds like 死 (sǐ), meaning “death.” This is the most unlucky number. Many buildings in China skip the 4th floor, and people will actively avoid phone numbers containing a four.
• Comparison to Western Culture: While Western cultures have lucky (e.g., 7) and unlucky (e.g., 13) numbers, the concept is not as deeply integrated into daily commercial and social life as it is in China. In the West, getting a “bad” number is a minor annoyance. In China, getting a number full of fours can be seen as a genuinely bad omen, while a number with many eights is a status symbol. This belief system directly impacts the cost and desirability of phone numbers sold by carriers.

While 电话号码 (diànhuà hàomǎ) is the correct full term, its usage varies by context.

• Asking for a Number: The most common way to ask is: `你的电话号码是多少？` (Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?) - “What is your phone number?”
• Shortened Forms: In casual conversation, it's far more common to refer to a mobile number. People will often shorten the term to:
  • 手机号 (shǒujī hào): “Mobile phone number.” This is the most common term used today.
  • 号码 (hàomǎ): “Number.” Used when the context is obvious (e.g., someone is holding a phone and asks for your `号码`).
• Giving a Number (The “yāo” Rule): This is a critical point for learners. When reading a string of digits like a phone number, the number one (一 yī) is almost always pronounced as yāo. This is done to avoid confusion with the number seven (七 qī), which can sound similar over a bad connection.
• WeChat is King: In many social and even semi-formal situations, exchanging WeChat IDs (微信号 wēixìn hào) has become more common than exchanging phone numbers. However, for official forms, deliveries, and more formal contacts, the phone number remains essential.

• Example 1:
  • 你 的 电话号码 是 多少？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?
  • English: What is your phone number?
  • Analysis: This is the standard, textbook phrase for asking for a phone number. `是多少 (shì duōshǎo)` is a common pattern for asking “what is the number?”.
• Example 2:
  • 我 的 电话号码 是 幺三九 一二三四 五六七八。(139-1234-5678)
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì yāo sān jiǔ yāo èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā.
  • English: My phone number is 139-1234-5678.
  • Analysis: Note the use of 幺 (yāo) for the digit '1'. This is crucial for being understood correctly when giving your number.
• Example 3:
  • 请 把 你 的 电话号码 写 下来。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ xiě xiàlái.
  • English: Please write down your phone number.
  • Analysis: This uses the `把 (bǎ)` construction to emphasize the action (writing down) being performed on the object (the phone number). It's a polite and clear request.
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，我 不 记得 我 的 新 电话号码。
  • Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, wǒ bù jìde wǒ de xīn diànhuà hàomǎ.
  • English: Sorry, I don't remember my new phone number.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for a common situation. `记得 (jìde)` means “to remember.”
• Example 5:
  • 你 能 把 他 的 电话号码 给 我 吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bǎ tā de diànhuà hàomǎ gěi wǒ ma?
  • English: Can you give me his phone number?
  • Analysis: Another `把 (bǎ)` sentence, very common in spoken Chinese. `给我 (gěi wǒ)` means “give to me.”
• Example 6:
  • 我 已经 把 你 的 电话号码 存 起来 了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yǐjīng bǎ nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ cún qǐlái le.
  • English: I have already saved your phone number.
  • Analysis: `存起来 (cún qǐlái)` means “to save” or “to store away,” perfect for saving a contact in your phone.
• Example 7:
  • 这 是 公司 的 电话号码，不 是 我 的 手机号。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì gōngsī de diànhuà hàomǎ, bù shì wǒ de shǒujī hào.
  • English: This is the company's phone number, not my mobile number.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between a general/landline number and a personal mobile number (`手机号 shǒujī hào`).
• Example 8:
  • 你 确定 这个 电话号码 是 对 的 吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ quèdìng zhège diànhuà hàomǎ shì duì de ma?
  • English: Are you sure this phone number is correct?
  • Analysis: `确定 (quèdìng)` means “to be sure” or “to confirm.” `是 对 的 (shì duì de)` means “is correct.”
• Example 9:
  • 他 的 电话号码 里 有 三个 八，太 吉利 了！
  • Pinyin: Tā de diànhuà hàomǎ lǐ yǒu sān ge bā, tài jílì le!
  • English: His phone number has three eights, so auspicious!
  • Analysis: This directly references the cultural belief in lucky numbers. `吉利 (jílì)` means “auspicious” or “lucky.”
• Example 10:
  • 如果 你 找 不到 我，就 打 这个 电话号码。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ zhǎo bù dào wǒ, jiù dǎ zhège diànhuà hàomǎ.
  • English: If you can't find me, just call this phone number.
  • Analysis: A useful “if… then…” sentence structure. `如果 (rúguǒ)` means “if,” and `就 (jiù)` introduces the resulting action. `打 (dǎ)` here means “to call” or “to dial.”

• Mistake 1: Using “一 (yī)” instead of “幺 (yāo)”.
  • Incorrect: 我的号码是 `yī sān bā…` (Wǒ de hàomǎ shì yī sān bā…)
  • Correct: 我的号码是 `yāo sān bā…` (Wǒ de hàomǎ shì yāo sān bā…)
  • Reason: Pronouncing '1' as `yī` in a string of numbers can be easily confused with `七 (qī)`. Using `yāo` is the standard, unambiguous way to communicate the digit '1' in phone numbers, room numbers, etc.
• Mistake 2: Confusing `号码 (hàomǎ)` with `数字 (shùzì)`.
  • `号码 (hàomǎ)` refers to a number used for identification (phone number, room number, ticket number).
  • `数字 (shùzì)` refers to a numeral or digit as a mathematical concept.
  • Incorrect: `你的电话数字是多少？` (Nǐ de diànhuà shùzì shì duōshǎo?)
  • Correct: `你的电话号码是多少？` (Nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshǎo?)
  • Reason: You are asking for an identification code, not asking about the mathematical properties of the digits.
• Mistake 3: Using the full `电话号码` in very casual contexts.
  • While not technically “wrong,” it can sound a bit stiff or formal among friends. In a casual setting, asking `你的手机号是多少？` (Nǐ de shǒujī hào shì duōshǎo?) is more natural and common.

• `手机号 (shǒujī hào)` - Mobile phone number. The most common way to refer to a phone number in modern daily life.
• `手机 (shǒujī)` - Mobile phone, cell phone. Literally “hand machine.”
• `号码 (hàomǎ)` - Number. A common shortened version of `电话号码` when the context is clear.
• `座机 (zuòjī)` - Landline telephone. Literally “seat machine,” a phone that sits on a desk.
• `打错 (dǎ cuò)` - To dial incorrectly, to call the wrong number.
• `幺 (yāo)` - The special pronunciation for the digit '1' in a sequence to avoid confusion.
• `微信号 (wēixìn hào)` - WeChat ID. A very common alternative to a phone number for adding social contacts.
• `吉利 (jílì)` - Auspicious, lucky. A term often used to describe phone numbers with digits like 8 or 6.
• `数字 (shùzì)` - Numeral, digit. Refers to the abstract concept of a number, not an identification code.