yóupiào: 邮票 - Postage Stamp, Stamp

• Keywords: yóupiào, 邮票, Chinese stamp, postage stamp in Chinese, how to say stamp in Chinese, buy a stamp in China, mail a letter in China, Chinese philately, jíyóu, stamp collecting China.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word for “postage stamp,” 邮票 (yóupiào). This guide covers everything from its basic meaning and character origins to its cultural significance as a collectible in China. Discover how to use 邮票 (yóupiào) in practical situations like mailing a postcard from a Chinese post office (邮局), and understand the important difference between a postage stamp and a company seal or “chop.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yóupiào
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: A small adhesive paper label of specified value issued by a postal authority to be affixed to a letter or parcel to indicate that postage has been paid.
• In a Nutshell: 邮票 (yóupiào) is the direct and universal word for a postage stamp. It's what you stick on an envelope (信封) or postcard (明信片) before you mail it. While physical mail is less common now, the word is still essential for tourists, for business, and for understanding the popular hobby of stamp collecting (集邮) in China.

• 邮 (yóu): This character is associated with the postal service, mail, and posting things. Think of it as the “post” or “mail” part of the word. It's found in related words like “post office” (邮局) and “mailbox” (邮筒).
• 票 (piào): This character means “ticket” or “slip of paper.” You see it in words like “movie ticket” (电影票) and “train ticket” (火车票). It represents a small piece of paper that grants you a right or proves payment.
• Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 邮 (mail) + 票 (ticket), you get “mail ticket.” This is a perfectly logical and descriptive term for a postage stamp—it's a little ticket that proves you've paid for the mail service.

While a postage stamp might seem like a simple utility item in the West, 邮票 (yóupiào) holds a deeper cultural and historical weight in China. For decades, especially from the 1950s to the 1990s, stamp collecting, known as 集邮 (jíyóu), was an immensely popular national hobby. Stamps were seen as “miniature encyclopedias,” showcasing China's achievements, history, art, and natural beauty. The government issued special sets to commemorate everything from the founding of the PRC to the Zodiac animals of the Chinese New Year.

• Comparison to the West: In the US, stamp collecting is often seen as a quiet, somewhat niche hobby. In China, it was a mainstream phenomenon, a state-endorsed activity that combined education, patriotism, and art appreciation. For many, it was also a form of investment.
• Investment and Value: Certain Chinese stamps are among the most valuable in the world. The legendary 1980 “Golden Monkey” (庚申猴) stamp, for example, can be worth thousands of dollars. This has created a vibrant collector's market that continues to this day, even as the practical use of stamps declines. Asking an older person if they ever collected stamps can be a great way to start a conversation about their youth and a changing China.

In daily life, you'll encounter 邮票 (yóupiào) in a few key scenarios:

• At the Post Office (邮局): This is the most common context. You'll need to ask for a 邮票 when sending postcards to friends and family back home.
• Discussing Hobbies: When talking with older individuals or hobbyists, the topic of collecting 邮票 (集邮) might come up.
• Formalities: While less common, some official documents or small packages may still be sent via registered mail requiring stamps.

The formality is neutral. It's a standard, technical term used by everyone from children to postal workers.

• Example 1:
  • 我想买一张邮票寄到美国。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhāng yóupiào jì dào Měiguó.
  • English: I want to buy a stamp to mail to the United States.
  • Analysis: A classic, practical sentence you would use at a post office (邮局). Note the measure word for a stamp is 张 (zhāng).
• Example 2:
  • 请把邮票贴在信封的右上角。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ yóupiào tiē zài xìnfēng de yòu shàng jiǎo.
  • English: Please stick the stamp on the top-right corner of the envelope.
  • Analysis: This gives practical instructions. 贴 (tiē) means “to stick” or “to paste,” the specific verb used with stamps.
• Example 3:
  • 我爷爷最大的爱好是集邮。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ yéye zuì dà de àihào shì jíyóu.
  • English: My grandpa's biggest hobby is stamp collecting.
  • Analysis: Here, 邮票 (yóupiào) is shortened to 邮 (yóu) as part of the formal term for philately, 集邮 (jíyóu), which literally means “to collect mail (stamps).”
• Example 4:
  • 这张邮票的设计非常独特。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng yóupiào de shèjì fēicháng dútè.
  • English: The design of this stamp is very unique.
  • Analysis: Used when admiring a stamp's artistic qualities.
• Example 5:
  • 这枚生肖邮票很有收藏价值。
  • Pinyin: Zhè méi shēngxiào yóupiào hěn yǒu shōucáng jiàzhí.
  • English: This zodiac stamp has a lot of collection value.
  • Analysis: For collectors, the measure word 枚 (méi) is often used instead of 张 (zhāng). It sounds a bit more refined and is used for small, countable items like coins or medals.
• Example 6:
  • 寄这封信需要贴多少钱的邮票？
  • Pinyin: Jì zhè fēng xìn xūyào tiē duōshǎo qián de yóupiào?
  • English: How much postage (lit: a stamp of how much money) do I need to stick on to mail this letter?
  • Analysis: A key question at the post office. It shows you're asking about the value of the stamp required.
• Example 7:
  • 他给我看了一本他珍藏的邮票册。
  • Pinyin: Tā gěi wǒ kànle yī běn tā zhēncáng de yóupiào cè.
  • English: He showed me a stamp album that he treasures.
  • Analysis: 邮票册 (yóupiào cè) is the specific word for a stamp album or stock book.
• Example 8:
  • 妈妈，邮票是做什么用的？
  • Pinyin: Māma, yóupiào shì zuò shénme yòng de?
  • English: Mom, what are stamps used for?
  • Analysis: A simple, natural question a child might ask, demonstrating the decreasing visibility of stamps in the digital age.
• Example 9:
  • 这是一套纪念长城主题的邮票。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì yī tào jìniàn Chángchéng zhǔtí de yóupiào.
  • English: This is a set of commemorative stamps with a Great Wall theme.
  • Analysis: 一套 (yī tào) is the measure word for a “set” of something, often used for stamps issued together.
• Example 10:
  • 现在很少有人用邮票了，大家都用电子邮件。
  • Pinyin: Xiànzài hěn shǎo yǒu rén yòng yóupiào le, dàjiā dōu yòng diànzǐ yóujiàn.
  • English: Very few people use stamps now, everyone uses email.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly addresses the modern context of stamps and their decline in common use.

The most significant pitfall for English speakers is confusing 邮票 (yóupiào) with a different kind of “stamp.”

• False Friend: “Stamp” vs. “Seal/Chop”
  • In English, “stamp” can mean a postage stamp OR an ink stamp (a rubber stamp, a company seal). These are completely different concepts in Chinese.
  • 邮票 (yóupiào) is ONLY a postage stamp.
  • 印章 (yìnzhāng) or 图章 (túzhāng) is an ink seal, often called a “chop.” These are used in place of signatures on official documents, contracts, and artwork in China.
• Incorrect Usage Example:
  • Wrong: 你需要在这份合同上贴一个邮票。 (Nǐ xūyào zài zhè fèn hétong shàng tiē yī ge yóupiào.) → “You need to stick a postage stamp on this contract.” (This is incorrect and would cause confusion).
  • Correct: 你需要在这份合同上盖一个章。 (Nǐ xūyào zài zhè fèn hétong shàng gài yī ge zhāng.) → “You need to put a seal/chop on this contract.” (The verb is 盖 gài, “to cover/affix a seal”).
• Measure Words: 张 (zhāng) vs. 枚 (méi)
  • 张 (zhāng) is the standard, everyday measure word for flat objects like paper, tickets, and stamps. It is always correct.
  • 枚 (méi) is a more literary or specialized measure word used for small, valuable items like coins, rings, medals, and… collectible stamps. Using 枚 (méi) makes you sound like a connoisseur or collector. For everyday use at the post office, stick with 张 (zhāng).

• 邮局 (yóujú) - Post office. The place you go to buy a 邮票.
• 集邮 (jíyóu) - Philately; the hobby of stamp collecting. Literally “to collect mail.”
• 明信片 (míngxìnpiàn) - Postcard. One of the most common items you'll affix a 邮票 to.
• 信封 (xìnfēng) - Envelope.
• 寄信 (jì xìn) - To mail a letter. The action that requires a 邮票.
• 邮筒 (yóutǒng) - Mailbox (the public, often green, collection box on the street).
• 邮递员 (yóudìyuán) - Mail carrier, postman.
• 包裹 (bāoguǒ) - Parcel, package. Larger items sent through the mail.
• 印章 (yìnzhāng) - Seal, chop. The “other” kind of stamp; crucial to differentiate from 邮票.
• 邮费 (yóufèi) - Postage fee. The cost that the 邮票 represents.