拍
pāi
In Chinese, to pat is 拍 (pāi).
The verb 拍 means to tap or pat gently. When you combine it with the word for hand, 手, the meaning becomes more specific: 拍手 means to clap hands. For describing a more continuous or rhythmic patting or tapping motion, you can use the compound verb 拍打.
Meaning: to tap gently (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 拍 is the basic verb for a single pat, the reduplicated form 拍拍 is used in spoken language to describe a light, repetitive motion in a more casual or descriptive way. Additionally, 拍打 is used to emphasize a continuous or rhythmic action.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the term Pat1 (拍) is commonly used to express the general sense of "pat".
How does it change in a sentence?
You can use the construction 拍了拍 to indicate that a patting action was brief, repeated or gentle, such as a quick patting motion.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is pāi.
Did you know?
- The Chinese word 拍 is used not only for patting but also for taking a photo, as in 拍照. This is because the action of pressing a camera shutter mimics a quick patting or tapping motion.
- The word 拍 shares an ancient root with the Burmese word ဖျစ်, meaning 'to squeeze', which is used in the Burmese term for snapping one's fingers.
- While 拍 often means a gentle pat, it can also describe a forceful strike, such as slapping a table to get someone's attention.
Examples in context
- 我感覺有人拍了拍我的肩。I felt somebody pat me on the shoulder.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 拍 to describe being patted on the shoulder.Tatoeba #345932 by nickyeow, translation #276155 by CK
- 他轻轻地拍了拍我的肩膀。He gently patted my shoulder.
Example conversation
A man is trying to soothe a crying baby in a park.
- 志强 Zhiqiang他一直在哭，我不知道該怎麼辦。Tā yīzhí zài kū, wǒ bù zhīdào gāi zěnme bàn.He keeps crying, and I don't know what to do.
- 梓涵 Zihan你可以輕輕拍拍他的背。Nǐ kěyǐ qīngqīng pāipāi tā de bèi.You can gently pat his back.
- 志强 Zhiqiang好的，我試試看。Hǎo de, wǒ shìshì kàn.Okay, I will try that.
- 梓涵 Zihan這樣通常會讓他安靜下來。Zhèyàng tōngcháng huì ràng tā ānjìng xiàlái.That usually makes them calm down.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pat” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 拍, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
