牌 meaning and stroke order
Signboard; plaque; plate; tablet (CL:塊|块[kuai4]); brand; trademark; mahjong tile; domino; playing card (CL:張|张[zhang1])
How to write 牌, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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- 12
Meaning of 牌
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- signboard; plaque; plate; tablet (CL:塊|块[kuai4])
- brand; trademark
- mahjong tile; domino; playing card (CL:張|张[zhang1])
- (bound form) fixed pattern for lyrics or set melody in classical poetry or music (used in 詞牌|词牌[ci2 pai2] and 曲牌[qu3 pai2])
How 牌 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Page.
片 gives the meaning and 卑 hints at the sound.
Radical: 片 (slice), shared by 7 characters on this site.
How to remember 牌
On the left is 片 (piàn), a flat slice or sheet, which gives the meaning of a flat board or card. On the right is 卑 (bēi), which hints at the sound, so think of a flat 片 piece that says pái: a sign, a plate, or a playing card.
牌 is used for flat objects that carry information or are used in games, such as signs, license plates, medals, and cards. It also means brand, as in 品牌 (pǐnpái) and 名牌 (míngpái). Example: 我们晚上一起打牌吧。(Wǒmen wǎnshang yìqǐ dǎpái ba.) Let's play cards together tonight.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 牌 (pái) with 啤 (pí, as in 啤酒 beer) and 碑 (bēi, stone tablet), since all share 卑 on the right. Remember that 牌 has 片 on the left for a flat board, and its tone is second tone pái, not bēi.
Common words with 牌
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 牌子 | páizi | sign; trademark | HSK 3 |
| 金牌 | jīnpái | gold medal | HSK 3 |
| 银牌 | yínpái | silver medal | HSK 3 |
| 名牌儿 | míngpáir | erhua form of 名牌[ming2 pai2] | HSK 4 |
| 品牌 | pǐnpái | brand; brand name | HSK 6 |
| 车牌 | chēpái | vehicle license plate | HSK 6 |
| 打牌 | dǎpái | to play mahjong or cards | HSK 6 |
| 铜牌 | tóngpái | bronze medal; bronze plaque bearing a business name or logo etc | HSK 6 |
| 王牌 | wángpái | (card games) trump card; (fig.) ace; star player; top performer; best asset; secret weapon | HSK 7-9 |
| 招牌 | zhāopai | signboard; shop sign | HSK 7-9 |
| 牌照 | páizhào | (business) license; vehicle license | HSK 7-9 |
| 奖牌 | jiǎngpái | medal (awarded as a prize) | HSK 7-9 |
| 名牌 | míngpái | famous brand; nameplate | |
| 玩牌 | wánpái | to play cards; to play mahjong |
牌 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 牌
How many strokes are in 牌?
牌 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 牌 mean?
牌 (pái) means signboard; plaque; plate; tablet (CL:塊|块[kuai4]); brand; trademark; mahjong tile; domino; playing card (CL:張|张[zhang1]). A common word with it is 牌子 (páizi), meaning "sign; trademark".
How do you pronounce 牌?
牌 is pronounced pái, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 牌?
The radical of 牌 is 片, which carries the idea of "slice". Dictionaries list 牌 under this radical.
Is 牌 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 牌 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 牌子 and 品牌?
牌子 (páizi) is casual and can mean a physical sign or a brand, as in 这是什么牌子的？ (What brand is this?). 品牌 (pǐnpái) is more formal and used for brands in business and marketing contexts.
Which measure words go with 牌?
Use 张 (zhāng) for playing cards, as in 一张牌 (one card). Use 块 (kuài) for signboards, plaques, and plates, as in 一块牌子 (a sign).