Definition
垫 (diàn) has two verb senses: 'to pad/put something under' and 'to advance money', plus a noun sense 'cushion/pad/mat'. As a noun, it often appears in compounds (坐垫, 鞋垫) while 垫子 is the standalone word. The verb 'to pad' is broader than 垫底, which means 'to put something at the bottom' or 'to come last'.
verb
to padto put something underto pay for someone (to advance money)
noun
cushionpadmat
Easily confused
- 热rèlook-alikehot (of weather, food, or objects)
- 点diǎnsound-alike(noun) dot, point, drop; o'clock
- 点diǎnsound-aliketo tap or touch briefly
- 店diànsound-alikeshop; store
- 电diànsound-alike(noun) electricity; electric power
Examples
- 垫。Wǒ zài xiāngzi xiàmiàn diàn le yì zhāng bàozhǐ.I padded a newspaper under the box.
- 垫，。Nǐ xiān diàn yíxià qián, wǒ míngtiān huán nǐ.You advance the money first, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
- ，。zhège diàn zi hěn ruǎn, zuò zhe hěn shūfu.This cushion is very soft and comfortable to sit on.
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