‘邮编’ is a short, commonly used noun meaning ‘postal code’ — the numeric code assigned to a geographic area for mail sorting and delivery. It combines two characters: 邮 (yóu), meaning ‘mail’ or ‘post’, and 编 (biān), meaning ‘to compile’ or ‘to assign a number/sequence’. Together, they literally mean ‘compiled postal number’, reflecting how postal codes are systematically assigned by national postal services. In China, 邮编 consists of six digits and is essential when filling out address forms, ordering online, or sending letters.

This term is widely used in daily administrative and commercial contexts — from government forms and e-commerce checkout pages to package labels and official documents. While formal writing may use the full term 邮政编码 (yóu zhèng biān mǎ), 邮编 is the standard colloquial and written abbreviation understood across all age groups and regions. It’s never used as a verb or adjective; it functions strictly as a countable noun, often appearing with measure words like 个 (e.g., 一个邮编) or directly after an address.