Definitions

tiē (verb) to stick; to paste; to post
tiē (verb) to keep close to; to fit snugly
tiē (verb,noun) to subsidize; allowance
tiē (noun) sticker

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

In its traditional form 貼, this character combines the semantic cowrie shell radical 貝 on the left, associated with money or trade, with the phonetic component 占 (zhān) on the right. The cowrie radical indicates the original meaning related to financial transactions, such as giving a pledge, offering a subsidy, or covering a shortfall. Over time, the primary sense shifted toward the physical act of pasting, gluing, or sticking an object onto a surface, likely derived from applying a seal or attaching a pawn ticket. It now functions as both a verb for adhering things and a classifier for plasters or patches.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在墙上海报

Wǒ zài qiáng shàng tiē hǎibào

I paste a poster on the wall

心地帮我拿行李

Tā tiēxīn de bāng wǒ ná xínglǐ

She thoughtfully helped me carry my luggage

妈妈补了我的生活费

Māma bǔtiē le wǒ de shēnghuó fèi

Mom subsidized my living expenses

请把邮票在信封上

Qǐng bǎ yóupiào tiē zài xìnfēng shàng

Please stick the stamp on the envelope

这个纸很漂亮我想买

Zhège tiēzhǐ hěn piàoliang wǒ xiǎng mǎi

This sticker is very pretty I want to buy it

公司为员工提供了交通补

Gōngsī wèi yuángōng tígōng le jiāotōng bǔtiē

The company provides transportation subsidies for employees

切地描述了当时的场景

Tā tiēqiè de miáoshù le dāngshí de chǎngjǐng

He aptly described the scene at that time

为了环保我们应该减少使用膜产品

Wèile huánbǎo wǒmen yīnggāi jiǎnshǎo shǐyòng tiēmó chǎnpǐn

For environmental protection we should reduce the use of film-laminated products