贴

• Pinyin: tiē
• Hanzi breakdown: 贴 = 贝(shell/money) + 占 (to occupy, phonetic)

Meaning

To stick; to paste; to affix; to press close to.

Primary meaning is to affix something to a surface using adhesive. Also means to be very close to something or someone (紧贴着墙站, standing pressed against the wall). Common uses include posting notices, sticking stamps, and applying stickers.

Examples

1. 他把旅行照片贴在了日记本的第一页。 He stuck his travel photos onto the first page of his diary.
2. 请把邮票贴好，然后把信投进邮筒。 Please affix the stamp properly before posting the letter.
3. 孩子们在窗户上贴了很多彩色的剪纸花。 The children stuck lots of colourful paper-cut flowers on the window.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, crafts

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 把海报贴在墙上。(Stick the poster on the wall.)
• 她在包裹上贴了一张标签。(She affixed a label to the parcel.)

Don't Say

• 贴在人身上 — avoid using 贴 for physical contact with people in most contexts; use 靠近 or 紧挨 instead to describe closeness to a person.

Origin & History

The character 贴 combines 贝 (shell/money, indicating value or closeness) and 占 (to occupy, phonetic), originally suggesting the act of fixing something firmly in place.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal