牌 (pái) — playing card, mahjong tile, or game piece; signboard, nameplate, tablet; medal, badge
Definition
牌 covers game pieces, signs, and badges — context decides which. Compare 牌子 (a physical sign or brand) and 名牌 (a well-known brand); for medals, 奖牌 pairs with 奖, and 勋章 is more formal.
noun
playing cardmahjong tileor game piecesignboardnameplatetabletmedalbadge
Measure word · 片, 个, 块
Examples
- 。Tā zhèng zài dǎ pái.He is playing cards (or mahjong).
- 。Shāng diàn mén kǒu guà zhe yí gè pái zi.There is a signboard hanging at the store entrance.
- 。Tā yíng dé le yì méi jiǎng pái.He won a medal.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
片片piàn
Sound part声符shēngfú
卑
卑bēi牌pái
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
牌 puts 片, a flat piece, beside 卑, which gives the sound.
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