服帖 (fú tiē) — docile, obedient (of a person, especially after being convinced or subdued); fitting well, smooth (of clothing or fabric); at ease, comfortable

Definition

Means "docile / fitting smoothly / at ease" depending on context — usually refers to how a person or thing settles comfortably into place. The most common usage is for clothing that fits well without wrinkling.

adjective
docileobedient (of a person, especially after being convinced or subdued)fitting wellsmooth (of clothing or fabric)at easecomfortable

Examples

  • 服帖。
    Tā bèi shuō fú hòu biàn de hěn fú tiē.
    He became very docile after being convinced.
  • 服帖。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu chuān zài shēn shàng hěn fú tiē.
    This piece of clothing fits very smoothly on the body.
  • ，。
    Tā xīn lǐ bù fú tiē, zǒng xiǎng zài shì shì.
    She didn't feel at ease inside and always wanted to try again.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

服fúsubmit
帖tiēsmooth

服 and 帖 both suggest being smooth or compliant, so together they describe docile ease.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīna square item of cloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn帖tiě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 巾 shows a square item of cloth. The right part 占 gives the sound.

Open 帖 →

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