号
Meanings
number; issue; numbered model or item; member of a numbered group
Often used after a number or time expression to label an issue, edition, numbered machine or model, or a person/item counted as part of a group, as in 六月号, 一号機, and 第一号.
The June issue of this magazine goes on sale tomorrow.
The first unit of the new robot has been completed.
He became the first user of this system.
sobriquet; pen name; art name
A formal or literary word for an assumed name, especially one used by writers, poets, artists, or historical figures; modern everyday English-like ペンネーム is often used for contemporary writers.
The haiku poet published poems under the pen name “Hakuu.”
size number; gauge; standard size
Used as a size designation in specific systems such as canvases, printing type, and knitting needles; the exact physical size depends on the field.
I bought a size-10 canvas for painting.
Use size-6 knitting needles for this yarn.
suffix for vehicle names; ship, train, or aircraft name suffix
Attached to the names of ships, trains, airplanes, spacecraft, and similar vehicles or services, functioning like a name marker rather than a simple number.
We went to Kyoto on the Hikari train.
The large passenger ship Sakura entered the port.
Usage patterns
- 第〈数〉号the No. <number> item/issue in a series
This is the memorable No. 1 item.
- 号を名乗るto go by a pen name or art name
The painter went by the art name 'Sesshū.'
- 〈数〉号のキャンバスa size-<number> canvas
This canvas is size 20.
- 〈物〉〈数〉号the No. <number> named vehicle or service
I rode the Nozomi No. 7 Shinkansen.
- 〈時〉号the issue for a given time period (e.g. a month)
I bought the magazine's June issue.
Expressions
- 六字の名号the six-character name of Amida Buddha
- 号令をかけるgive a command; give an order
- 赤信号皆で渡れば怖くないif everyone crosses against the red light together, there's nothing to be afraid of; there's no reason to feel guilty about doing something bad if everyone does it