帽子

• Pinyin: mào zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 帽 = 巾 (cloth) + 冒 (to cover, phonetic) — a cloth head covering; 子 = nominal suffix

Meaning

Hat; cap. A head covering worn for warmth, fashion, or protection.

A general term for all types of headwear: 棒球帽 (baseball cap), 草帽 (straw hat), 毛线帽 (knit cap), etc. Figuratively, 戴帽子 can mean to label someone or pin a charge on them (e.g. 扣帽子 means to brand someone unfairly).

Examples

1. 出门的时候别忘了戴帽子。 Don't forget to wear a hat when going out.
2. 她买了一顶漂亮的草帽。 She bought a beautiful straw hat.
3. 太阳太大了，你最好戴个帽子。 The sun is too strong — you'd better wear a hat.

Usage Guide

Context: clothing, everyday, weather

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这顶帽子很适合你。(This hat suits you well.)
• 冬天出门一定要戴帽子。(You must wear a hat when going out in winter.)

Don't Say

• 别给我戴帽子 — this figurative meaning is 'don't label me unfairly,' not about literal hats; be aware of this common idiom to avoid confusion

Origin & History

帽 derives from 巾 (cloth) with 冒 as phonetic component. 子 is a common noun suffix. Originally referred to cloth head coverings.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal