〜号(ごう)

ごう
suffix, counter
number; issue (counter)
See also: 号(ごう) (number (base form))
1. number (in a series)
Used to indicate a numbered item in a series, such as train names, magazine issues, or room numbers.
新幹線(しんかんせん)のぞみ3号(さんごう)に乗(の)る。
To ride the Nozomi No. 3 Shinkansen.
今月(こんげつ)号(ごう)の雑誌(ざっし)を買(か)った。
I bought this month's issue of the magazine.
会議室(かいぎしつ)5号(ごごう)で待(ま)っています。
I'm waiting in meeting room No. 5.
2. name of a ship/train
The suffix used in naming vessels, trains, and other vehicles.
タイタニック号(ごう)は有名(ゆうめい)な船(ふね)だ。
The Titanic is a famous ship.
アポロ11号(じゅういちごう)が月(つき)に着陸(ちゃくりく)した。
Apollo 11 landed on the moon.
その探査機(たんさき)は「はやぶさ2号(にごう)」と名付(なづ)けられ、小惑星(しょうわくせい)を目指(めざ)して飛(と)び立(た)った。
The probe was named Hayabusa 2 and launched toward an asteroid.

〜号(ごう) is a suffix used to assign a number to items in a named series. Unlike 〜番(ばん), which numbers items in ordered sequences, 号(ごう) is used for named vehicles, publications, and designated spaces.

COUNTING:

  • 1号(いちごう), 2号(にごう), 3号(さんごう)...
  • 何(なん)号(ごう): what number?

COMMON USES:

  • Trains/buses: のぞみ1号(いちごう) (Nozomi No. 1)
  • Magazine issues: 今月(こんげつ)号(ごう) / 5月(がつ)号(ごう) (May issue)
  • Room numbers: 3号(ごう)室(しつ) (Room No. 3)
  • Ships: タイタニック号(ごう) (the Titanic)
  • Spacecraft: アポロ11号(じゅういちごう) (Apollo 11)
  • Typhoons: 台風(たいふう)10号(じゅうごう) (Typhoon No. 10)

CONTRAST WITH 〜番(ばん):
号(ごう) labels items in a named series (trains, issues, ships), while 番(ばん) numbers items in ordered sequences (1番(ばん), 2番(ばん)). For example, a train might be のぞみ3号(さんごう), but a ticket window would be 3番(ばん)窓口(まどぐち).

Related Words

Contrast: 〜番(ばん) (number/turn)
general
Added 2026.1.13 16:50 · Revised 2026.5.29 3:09
04000/04024_gou