码 meaning and stroke order
(archaic) agate; (bound form) standard weight used with a balance scale; number
How to write 码, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Meaning of 码
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (archaic) agate
- (bound form) standard weight used with a balance scale
- number
- (computing) code
- (clothing) size
- yard (unit of length)
How 码 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Stone.
石 gives the meaning and 马 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 码
码 combines 石 (shí, stone) for meaning and 马 (mǎ, horse) for sound. Picture small stones used as counting weights on a scale, and the horse tells you it is read mǎ.
码 shows up mostly in compounds about numbers and codes, such as 号码 (hàomǎ, number), 密码 (mìmǎ, password) and 二维码 (èrwéimǎ, QR code). It is also used for clothing sizes and as the unit "yard". Example: 你的手机号码是多少？(Nǐ de shǒujī hàomǎ shì duōshao?) What is your phone number?
Common mistake: Learners often write 吗 (ma), 妈 (mā) or 玛 (mǎ) instead of 码 because they share 马. Remember that only 码 has the stone radical 石 on the left. Also keep it third tone, not the neutral tone of 吗.
Common words with 码
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 号码 | hàomǎ | number | HSK 4 |
| 密码 | mìmǎ | cipher; secret code; password; PIN | HSK 4 |
| 数码 | shùmǎ | number; numerals | HSK 4 |
| 码头 | mǎtóu | wharf; dock; quay; pier | HSK 5 |
| 起码 | qǐmǎ | at the minimum; at the very least | HSK 5 |
| 二维码 | èrwéimǎ | 2D barcode; matrix code; (esp.) QR code | HSK 5 |
| 筹码 | chóumǎ | bargaining chip; gaming chip; casino token | HSK 7-9 |
| 代码 | dàimǎ | code | |
| 编码 | biānmǎ | to code; to encode | |
| 尺码 | chǐmǎ | size; fitting (of apparel) | |
| 两码事 | liǎngmǎshì | two things that are fundamentally different from each other; two very different things | |
| 解码 | jiěmǎ | to decode; to decipher | |
| 价码 | jiàmǎ | price tag | |
| 码线 | mǎxiàn | yard line (sports) |
码 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 码
How many strokes are in 码?
码 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 码 mean?
码 (mǎ) means (archaic) agate; (bound form) standard weight used with a balance scale; number. A common word with it is 号码 (hàomǎ), meaning "number".
How do you pronounce 码?
码 is pronounced mǎ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 码?
The radical of 码 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 码 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 码?
The traditional form of 码 is 碼. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 码 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 码 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 码 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What does 起码 mean and how is it used?
起码 (qǐmǎ) means "at least" or "at the very minimum". It usually comes before the verb or number, as in 起码要三天 (qǐmǎ yào sān tiān), it will take at least three days.
Why does 码头 mean dock if 码 is about numbers?
码头 (mǎtóu) is a fixed word for a wharf or pier, so learn it as a whole unit rather than from the parts. It is common in place names and in phrases like 在码头等船 (zài mǎtóu děng chuán), wait for the boat at the dock.