zhè shì kǎhào.

Mandarin usually does not use articles like a, an, or the.

So 这是卡号 can mean:

• This is a card number
• This is the card number

The exact meaning depends on context. In real conversation, the situation usually makes it clear which one is meant.

这 means this.

In this sentence, it points to something near the speaker, just like this in English.

Examples:

• 这是什么？ — What is this?
• 这是我的卡。 — This is my card.

You may also see 这个, which also often means this one or this. In this sentence, 这 by itself is fine because it is followed directly by 是.

是 is the verb used to connect two nouns, similar to is / am / are in sentences like A is B.

So:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 卡号 = card number

Together: This is the card number.

But 是 is not used exactly like English to be in every situation. For example, with adjectives, Mandarin often does not use 是:

• 他很高。 — He is tall.
  Not 他是高。

So in 这是卡号, 是 works because it links one thing to another thing.

卡号 means card number.

It is made of:

• 卡 = card
• 号 = number

So it literally means card-number.

This is a very common way Mandarin forms words: putting two nouns together to make a compound.

Similar examples:

• 手机号 = mobile phone number
• 房号 = room number
• 学号 = student number

Good question. 号码 means number in a general sense, especially identifying numbers.

Examples:

• 电话号码 — telephone number
• 房间号码 — room number

But Mandarin often uses shorter compounds in everyday speech:

• 卡号 = card number
• 手机号 = mobile number
• 学号 = student ID number

So 卡号 is a normal, compact way to say card number.

Yes, you can, but it sounds a little different.

• 这是卡号。 = This is the card number.
• 这个是卡号。 = This one is the card number.

这个 often feels a bit more specific, like pointing out this one among several things.

In many situations, both are understandable.
But 这是卡号 is very natural and simple.

Yes, in this sentence the word order is very similar to English:

• 这 = this
• 是 = is
• 卡号 = card number

So the structure is:

this + is + card number

That makes this sentence especially beginner-friendly.

The pronunciation is:

• 这 — zhè
• 是 — shì
• 卡号 — kǎhào

A natural rhythm is:

zhè shì kǎ hào

A few pronunciation tips:

• zh in zhè sounds somewhat like the j in judge, but with the tongue curled back a bit more.
• shì has an sh sound, but again with the tongue curled back slightly.
• kǎ is third tone: it dips down and then rises.
• hào is fourth tone: sharp and falling.

Since 卡号 is a two-syllable word, learners sometimes say each syllable too separately. Try to keep it smooth: kǎhào.

No. Standard written Chinese normally does not put spaces between words.

So it is written:

这是卡号。

Not:

这 是 卡号。

Spaces are often added only in teaching materials to help learners see the parts more clearly.

Also notice the Chinese full stop:

• Chinese: 。
• English: .

Yes, it is a complete and natural sentence.

It would fit situations like:

• pointing at a number on a card
• identifying which number someone should use
• showing someone where the card number is

For example:

• A: 哪个是卡号？ — Which one is the card number?
• B: 这是卡号。 — This is the card number.

So even though it is short, it works perfectly as a real sentence.

Yes.

• 这 = this
• 那 = that

So:

• 这是卡号。 — This is the card number.
• 那是卡号。 — That is the card number.

Use 这 for something near the speaker, and 那 for something farther away or already mentally distant in the conversation.

Not in this sentence.

You often need a measure word when 这 comes before a noun directly:

• 这张卡 — this card
• 这个号码 — this number

But here, 这 is acting more like this by itself, as the subject of the sentence:

• 这是卡号。

So no measure word is needed.

If you added a noun after 这, then you would usually need one:

• 这张卡的卡号 — the card number of this card

Yes. Because Mandarin does not mark a/the directly, both are possible.

Context decides the best translation.

For example:

• If someone asks Which one is the card number?, then 这是卡号 is probably This is the card number.
• If someone is showing an example of what a card number looks like, it could be This is a card number.

So the Chinese stays the same, while English may change depending on context.