The word "号码" (hàomǎ, meaning "number" as in an identifying code) is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a core idea to create a new, unified concept. The first character, "号" (hào), carries the fundamental sense of a designation, a mark, or a label used to identify something. The second character, "码" (mǎ), introduces the notion of a unit, a sign, or a symbol used for counting or tallying. Together, they conceptually fuse to represent a labeled or designated symbol used for identification, effectively forming the idea of a specific number in a sequence or a code.