zhāntiē: 粘贴 - To Paste, To Stick

• Keywords: zhantie, zhan tie, 粘贴, how to say paste in Chinese, copy and paste in Chinese, Chinese for stick, stick a poster, zhān tiē meaning, Mandarin paste, Chinese verb for sticking.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 粘贴 (zhāntiē), which means 'to paste' or 'to stick'. This comprehensive guide covers its use in both the digital world (copy and paste) and the physical world (sticking a notice on a wall). Discover its character origins, cultural context, and practical example sentences to master this fundamental HSK 4 verb in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhāntiē
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To paste something onto a surface, either physically or digitally.
• In a Nutshell: 粘贴 (zhāntiē) is the word you'll use for both the “paste” function on your computer and for the physical act of sticking something, like a poster or a stamp. It’s a direct, action-oriented verb that bridges the physical and digital worlds, making it incredibly useful in modern life.

• 粘 (zhān): This character means “to stick” or “sticky”. It's composed of 米 (mǐ), meaning “rice”, and 占 (zhàn), which provides the sound. In ancient China, a sticky paste made from cooked rice was used as a simple glue. So, the character for “sticky” literally contains “rice”!
• 贴 (tiē): This character means “to stick on” or “to affix”. It's composed of 贝 (bèi), which originally meant “cowrie shell” and later came to represent money or valuables, and 占 (zhàn), again providing the sound.
• How they combine: Together, 粘贴 (zhāntiē) combines the concept of stickiness (粘) with the action of affixing something (贴), creating a versatile verb that means “to paste” or “to stick on”.

While 粘贴 (zhāntiē) is a straightforward functional word, its use is tied to important cultural practices in China. The most prominent example is during the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival (春节, Chūnjié). During this time, it's a tradition for families to 粘贴春联 (zhāntiē chūnlián) — to paste red paper couplets with auspicious blessings onto their doorframes. They also paste the character 福 (fú), meaning “fortune”, often upside down to signify that “fortune has arrived” (福到了, fú dàole), which sounds the same as “fortune is upside down” (福倒了, fú dàole). This contrasts with Western practices where holiday decorations are often hung or taped. The specific act of pasting with glue or paste is central to this Chinese tradition, symbolizing a firm and lasting wish for good fortune in the coming year. This public display of wishes on doorways is a communal act, very different from the more private nature of sending greeting cards in the West.

粘贴 is used constantly in two main contexts: the digital and the physical.

This is arguably the most common use of 粘贴 today. It is the standard term for the “paste” command in software interfaces.

• 复制粘贴 (fùzhì zhāntiē): This is the set phrase for “Copy and Paste”.
• 剪切粘贴 (jiǎnqiē zhāntiē): This is the set phrase for “Cut and Paste”.

You will hear it in offices, classrooms, and any situation involving a computer.

In the physical world, 粘贴 is used for affixing one flat surface to another.

• Sticking notices: You might see a sign that says “请勿在此粘贴广告” (qǐng wù zài cǐ zhāntiē guǎnggào) - “Please do not paste advertisements here.”
• Crafts and schoolwork: A child might 粘贴 pictures into a scrapbook.
• Applying bandages or patches: A doctor might 粘贴 a medicated patch onto a patient's skin.

The formality is generally neutral. It's a standard, functional word suitable for almost any context.

• Example 1:
  • 请把这段文字粘贴到邮件里。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ zhè duàn wénzì zhāntiē dào yóujiàn lǐ.
  • English: Please paste this paragraph into the email.
  • Analysis: A very common and practical instruction in a digital/office context.
• Example 2:
  • 他把寻狗启事粘贴在电线杆上。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ xún gǒu qǐshì zhāntiē zài diànxiàngān shàng.
  • English: He pasted the “lost dog” notice onto the utility pole.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the physical use of the word. `启事 (qǐshì)` is a type of public notice.
• Example 3:
  • 春节的时候，家家户户都要粘贴春联。
  • Pinyin: Chūnjié de shíhòu, jiājiāhùhù dōu yào zhāntiē chūnlián.
  • English: During the Spring Festival, every household pastes Spring Couplets.
  • Analysis: This highlights the cultural significance of the word, as explained in the section above.
• Example 4:
  • 你可以直接复制粘贴这个链接。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ zhíjiē fùzhì zhāntiē zhège liànjiē.
  • English: You can directly copy and paste this link.
  • Analysis: Shows the common collocation `复制粘贴 (fùzhì zhāntiē)`.
• Example 5:
  • 老师让孩子们把剪好的图片粘贴在纸上。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng háizimen bǎ jiǎn hǎo de túpiàn zhāntiē zài zhǐ shàng.
  • English: The teacher had the children paste the cut-out pictures onto paper.
  • Analysis: A typical example from a classroom or crafting context.
• Example 6:
  • 护士给我粘贴了一个创可贴。
  • Pinyin: Hùshì gěi wǒ zhāntiē le yí ge chuāngkětiē.
  • English: The nurse stuck a band-aid on for me.
  • Analysis: Shows its use in a medical context. `创可贴 (chuāngkětiē)` is the word for a band-aid or adhesive bandage.
• Example 7:
  • 这面墙上被粘贴了很多小广告。
  • Pinyin: Zhè miàn qiáng shàng bèi zhāntiē le hěn duō xiǎo guǎnggào.
  • English: This wall has had a lot of small advertisements pasted on it.
  • Analysis: This uses the passive voice with `被 (bèi)` to show that the action was done to the wall.
• Example 8:
  • 写报告时，不要只是从网上粘贴内容。
  • Pinyin: Xiě bàogào shí, búyào zhǐshì cóng wǎngshàng zhāntiē nèiróng.
  • English: When writing a report, don't just paste content from the internet.
  • Analysis: A figurative use, warning against plagiarism. The meaning is still rooted in the “copy and paste” action.
• Example 9:
  • 他小心翼翼地把邮票粘贴到信封上。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiǎoxīnyìyì de bǎ yóupiào zhāntiē dào xìnfēng shàng.
  • English: He carefully pasted the stamp onto the envelope.
  • Analysis: `小心翼翼 (xiǎoxīnyìyì)` is an adverb that shows the careful manner of the action.
• Example 10:
  • 你需要用胶水才能把这张画粘贴牢固。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào yòng jiāoshuǐ cáinéng bǎ zhè zhāng huà zhāntiē láogù.
  • English: You need to use glue to be able to paste this picture firmly.
  • Analysis: This sentence includes the tool (`胶水` - glue) and the result (`牢固` - firm, secure).

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 粘贴 (zhāntiē) and its shorter, more common component, 贴 (tiē).

• 贴 (tiē): As a standalone verb, `贴` is extremely common for physical sticking and is often preferred in casual speech. For example, `贴邮票 (tiē yóupiào)` (to stick a stamp) or `贴照片 (tiē zhàopiàn)` (to stick a photo) are more common than using `粘贴`. Think of `贴` as “to stick”.
• 粘贴 (zhāntiē): This word is slightly more formal and is the only correct choice for the digital “paste” function. You cannot say `复制贴`. In physical contexts, it often implies a more thorough or official act of pasting, such as putting up a formal notice.

Common Mistake: Using `贴` for the computer command.

• Incorrect: 你复制然后贴在这里。(Nǐ fùzhì ránhòu tiē zài zhèlǐ.)
• Correct: 你复制然后粘贴在这里。(Nǐ fùzhì ránhòu zhāntiē zài zhèlǐ.)
• Reason: In the digital context, only the full word `粘贴` is used for “paste”.

Think of it this way: all `粘贴` actions involve `贴`, but not all `贴` actions are called `粘贴`. When in doubt, especially for physical objects, `贴` is often a safe bet. For computers, always use `粘贴`.

• 复制 (fùzhì) - To copy. The inseparable partner of `粘贴` in the digital world.
• 剪切 (jiǎnqiē) - To cut. The third command in the “cut, copy, paste” trio.
• 贴 (tiē) - To stick, to affix. The more common, single-character verb for the physical act of sticking something.
• 海报 (hǎibào) - Poster. An object that is frequently the target of the verb `粘贴`.
• 通知 (tōngzhī) - Notice, announcement. Something often pasted on a public bulletin board.
• 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) - Glue (liquid). The substance often used to `粘贴` things.
• 春联 (chūnlián) - Spring Festival Couplets. A key cultural item that is pasted on doorways.
• 便签 (biànqiān) - Sticky note / Post-it note. A note designed for sticking, often referred to as `便利贴 (biànlìtiē)`.