Definition
贴 (tiē) is a versatile verb covering three distinct senses: physically sticking/pasting (like a stamp or poster), snuggling close (like a pet), and subsidizing (like an allowance). For 'stick', it's more general than 粘 (zhān 'glue, adhere') and 粘贴 (zhān tiē 'affix, paste'); for 'subsidize', it's less formal than 补贴 (bǔ tiē) or 资助 (zī zhù).
verb
to stickto pasteto post (e.g. online)to keep close toto snuggle up toto fit snuglyto subsidizeto provide financial support
Easily confused
- 钻zuānlook-aliketo drill, to bore (a hole)
- 铁tiěsound-alikeiron (metal); (literary) arms, weapons
- 粘zhānlook-aliketo stick, to glue, to adhere
- 沾zhānlook-aliketo touch (and get something on), to come into contact with
- 员yuánlook-alike(suffix) person; employee; member
Examples
- 贴。Tā bǎ yóupiào tiē zài xìnfēng shàng le.He stuck the stamp on the envelope.
- 贴。Xiǎo gǒu xǐhuan tiē zhe zhǔrén.The little dog likes to snuggle up to its owner.
- 贴。Gōngsī měi yuè tiē tā wǔ bǎi kuài qián.The company subsidizes him 500 yuan a month.
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