邮票

• Pinyin: yóu piào
• Hanzi breakdown: 邮 = 由 (from) + 阝(邑) (city), meaning postal; 票 = 西 (west/cover) + 示 (show), meaning ticket

Meaning

Postage stamp. A small adhesive label stuck on mail to indicate prepaid postage.

While postal stamps are less commonly used in daily life due to digital communication, stamp collecting (集邮) remains a popular hobby in China. Commemorative stamps are often issued for major events and are valued by collectors.

Examples

1. 寄这封信需要贴多少钱的邮票？ How much postage does this letter need?
2. 我爷爷喜欢收集各种各样的邮票。 My grandfather likes to collect all kinds of stamps.
3. 你可以在邮局买到邮票。 You can buy stamps at the post office.

Usage Guide

Context: post office, hobbies, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 请帮我买几张邮票。(Please help me buy some stamps.)
• 这张邮票很有收藏价值。(This stamp has great collectible value.)

Don't Say

• 我在网上贴了一个邮票。(Don't confuse physical 邮票 with digital stickers — 邮票 is only for postal stamps)

Origin & History

邮 (post, mail) + 票 (ticket, label). A ticket or label for mailing purposes.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal