tiē: 贴 - To Stick, To Paste, To Subsidize, Close To
Quick Summary
Keywords: tie, 贴, paste, stick, glue, subsidy, close to,贴图, 倒贴, Chinese verb, learn Chinese, what does tie mean, how to use tie, Chinese culture, Spring Festival couplets, Chinese internet slang
Summary: Discover the versatile Chinese word 贴 (tiē), a term that goes far beyond its basic meaning of “to stick” or “to paste.” This page explores how 贴 (tiē) is used to describe physical actions like putting up a poster, metaphorical concepts like being emotionally “close to” someone (贴心), and even financial terms like receiving a “subsidy” (补贴). Learn its crucial role in cultural traditions like posting Spring Festival couplets (贴春联) and its modern usage in internet slang for “posting” online, making it an essential word for any Mandarin learner.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): tiē
Part of Speech: Verb, Adjective
HSK Level: HSK 3 (primary meaning: “to stick”)
Concise Definition: To cause something to adhere to a surface; to be situated very close to something; to provide a subsidy.
In a Nutshell: The core idea of 贴 (tiē) is adhesion and closeness. Physically, it's what you do with a sticker, a stamp, or a poster. This concept of “sticking” extends metaphorically. You can “stick close” to a person for support, your clothes can “stick” to your body (be close-fitting), and your actions can “stick to someone's heart” (be thoughtful). Financially, it can even mean to “stick” money onto something to help cover the cost, which we call a subsidy.
Character Breakdown
The character 贴 is a phono-semantic compound, meaning one part gives a hint to the meaning and the other to the sound.
贝 (bèi): The “shell” radical. In ancient China, cowry shells were used as currency, so this radical is almost always associated with money, value, or trade. This provides the semantic component.
占 (zhān/zhàn): This character means “to occupy” or “to take up.” Here, it primarily serves as the phonetic component, giving the character its “ie” sound.
The combination beautifully illustrates the meaning. You are using something of value (贝) to occupy (占) a surface or a position. This applies perfectly to pasting a valuable poster, applying a stamp (which costs money), or providing a financial subsidy.
Cultural Context and Significance
The act of 贴 (tiē) is deeply embedded in some of China's most important cultural traditions, particularly during Chinese New Year (Spring Festival).
贴春联 (tiē chūnlián) - Pasting Spring Festival Couplets: This is a cornerstone of New Year preparations. Families 贴 (tiē) red banners with poetic couplets expressing hopes for the new year on either side of their front door. This is not merely decoration; it's a ritual to welcome good fortune and ward off evil spirits.
贴福字 (tiē fú zì) - Pasting the “Fortune” Character: Along with couplets, families 贴 (tiē) the character 福 (fú), meaning “fortune” or “blessing,” on their doors and walls. Famously, it is often pasted upside down. The word for “upside down” is 倒 (dào), which is a homophone for 到 (dào), meaning “to arrive.” Therefore, an upside-down 福 signifies “fortune has arrived” (福到了 - fú dào le), a clever and hopeful play on words.
Comparison to Western Culture: The ritual of `贴春联` can be compared to hanging a Christmas wreath in the West. Both signify the start of a major holiday season. However, the Chinese practice is more specific, involving the written language and layered meanings through puns and symbolism. The physical act of “sticking” these wishes to the home is a tangible way of inviting prosperity for the year ahead.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Literal Use (Sticking/Pasting): This is the most common and direct meaning.
贴邮票 (tiē yóupiào): To stick a stamp.
贴海报 (tiē hǎibào): To put up a poster.
贴创可贴 (tiē chuāngkětiē): To apply a Band-Aid.
Metaphorical Use (Closeness):
贴身 (tiēshēn): Literally “sticking to the body.” It can describe close-fitting clothes or something kept very close, like a personal bodyguard (贴身保镖 - tiēshēn bǎobiāo).
贴心 (tiēxīn): Literally “sticking to the heart.” It's a beautiful adjective for someone who is exceptionally thoughtful, considerate, and caring.
Financial Use:
补贴 (bǔtiē): A subsidy or allowance. This is a very common term for money provided by the government or a company to help with costs (e.g., transportation subsidy, housing subsidy).
倒贴 (dàotiē): This has a strong negative connotation. It means to pay out of your own pocket for something you shouldn't have to, often in a work or relationship context where you're being taken advantage of. For example, “Not only did he not pay me, I had to `倒贴` for gas money.”
Internet and Social Media:
发帖 (fātiē) / 贴帖子 (tiē tiězi): To “post” a message on an online forum or message board (like Reddit). The post itself is a 帖子 (tiězi).
贴图 (tiētú): To post a picture, sticker, or emoji in a chat or forum.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
他正在墙上贴一张电影海报。
Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài qiáng shàng tiē yī zhāng diànyǐng hǎibào.
English: He is pasting a movie poster on the wall.
Analysis: This is the most direct, literal usage of 贴. It involves an adhesive action onto a surface.
Example 2:
寄信之前，别忘了贴邮票。
Pinyin: Jì xìn zhīqián, bié wàngle tiē yóupiào.
English: Before you mail the letter, don't forget to stick on a stamp.
Analysis: Another common, literal example related to daily life.
Example 3:
这个小女孩总是紧紧地贴着她妈妈。
Pinyin: Zhège xiǎo nǚhái zǒngshì jǐn jǐn de tiē zhe tā māmā.
English: This little girl always sticks closely to her mom.
Analysis: Here, 贴 is used to show physical proximity and a sense of dependency or attachment. No glue is involved, but the concept of “adhering” is the same.
Example 4:
你真是太贴心了，还记得我喜欢喝热可可。
Pinyin: Nǐ zhēnshi tài tiēxīn le, hái jìdé wǒ xǐhuān hē rè kěkě.
English: You are so thoughtful, you even remembered I like to drink hot cocoa.
Analysis: 贴心 (tiēxīn) is a compound adjective. The action “sticks to the heart,” meaning it's deeply appreciated and considerate.
English: I posted a thread on the forum yesterday asking everyone how to learn Chinese.
Analysis: This demonstrates modern internet usage. Note that the verb is often `发 (fā)` meaning “to issue,” while the noun for the post is `帖子 (tiězi)`. You can also say `贴帖子 (tiē tiězi)`.
English: He has been giving everything in this relationship, providing both money and effort (without getting anything back).
Analysis: A powerful example of the negative term 倒贴 (dàotiē), implying an unfair, one-sided contribution.
Example 10:
孩子发烧了，快给他额头上贴一个退热贴。
Pinyin: Háizi fāshāo le, kuài gěi tā étóu shàng tiē yī gè tuìrètiē.
English: The child has a fever, quick, put a fever-reducing patch on his forehead.
Analysis: A practical, modern medical usage. The product itself, a patch, is called a `退热贴 (tuìrètiē)`.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
贴 (tiē) vs. 放 (fàng) vs. 挂 (guà): This is a classic point of confusion for learners. They all relate to placing objects, but the method is different.
贴 (tiē): To stick something flat onto a surface using an adhesive (glue, tape, etc.).
Correct: 我把照片贴在墙上。(Wǒ bǎ zhàopiàn tiē zài qiáng shàng.) - I stuck the photo on the wall.
放 (fàng): To put or place an object on top of a horizontal surface.
Correct: 我把书放在桌子上。(Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.) - I put the book on the table.
Incorrect: 我把书~贴~在桌子上。 (This would mean you glued the book to the table!)
挂 (guà): To hang something from a point (a hook, a nail).
Correct: 我把画挂在墙上。(Wǒ bǎ huà guà zài qiáng shàng.) - I hung the painting on the wall.
Incorrect: 我把画~贴~在墙上。 (This is only correct if it's an unframed poster. If it's a framed painting on a nail, you must use `挂`.)
False Friend: “Post”: While 贴 (tiē) or 发帖 (fātiē) means “to post” on forums, it is less common for social media feeds. For platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or WeChat Moments, the verb 发 (fā), meaning “to send out” or “to issue,” is much more common.
Example: 我要发一个朋友圈。(Wǒ yào fā yī gè péngyǒuquān.) - I'm going to post a WeChat Moment.
Related Terms and Concepts
粘贴 (zhāntiē) - A more formal word for “to paste,” and the standard term for “paste” in a computer's copy-paste function (复制粘贴 fùzhì zhāntiē).
补贴 (bǔtiē) - The noun for “subsidy” or “allowance,” one of the most common financial applications of 贴.
创可贴 (chuāngkětiē) - The specific word for a Band-Aid or adhesive bandage.
体贴 (tǐtiē) - A synonym for `贴心 (tiēxīn)`, meaning considerate or thoughtful. It implies showing empathy for someone's needs.
倒贴 (dàotiē) - To pay out of one's own pocket for something one shouldn't, often implying being taken advantage of.
帖子 (tiězi) - The noun for an online forum post or thread.
靠近 (kàojìn) - A verb meaning “to get close to” or “to approach.” It's a good synonym for the physical proximity sense of 贴.
春联 (chūnlián) - Spring Festival couplets, the red banners that are culturally important to 贴 during Chinese New Year.
胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) - Glue; the substance you use to 贴 things.