牌子

• Pinyin: pái zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 牌 = 片 (slice) + 卑 (low/flat), a flat board used as a sign; 子 = noun suffix

Meaning

Sign; brand; plate. A board displaying information, or a product brand.

Has two main uses: (1) a physical sign or plate displaying information (门牌子 = door sign, 路牌子 = road sign), and (2) a brand or label of a product (什么牌子 = what brand). The 'brand' usage is extremely common in shopping contexts. More colloquial than 品牌, which is the formal word for brand.

Examples

1. 你这双鞋是什么牌子的？ What brand are your shoes?
2. 路口有一个大牌子，上面写着'禁止停车'。 There is a big sign at the intersection that says 'No Parking'.
3. 这个牌子的手机质量不错。 This brand of mobile phone is of good quality.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, daily life, directions

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 这个牌子的衣服很好看。(This brand's clothes look great.)
• 门口的牌子写着营业时间。(The sign at the entrance shows the business hours.)

Don't Say

• 他是一个好牌子的人。(Don't use 牌子 to describe people — it only refers to product brands or physical signs. Say 他的名声很好 for a person's reputation.)

Origin & History

牌 originally meant a flat piece of wood or bamboo used as a sign (片 slice + 卑 low/flat); 子 is a common noun suffix.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal