拍擊 / 拍击
pāijí
In Chinese, the word for slap can be expressed in several ways depending on whether you mean a general hitting motion or a strike to the face. The default form is 拍擊 / 拍击 (pāijí). If unsure, use 拍擊 / 拍击. Wiktionary also lists 耳光 (ěrguāng).
Meaning: A blow dealt with the open hand (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 拍擊 / 拍击 | pāijí |
| 耳光 | ěrguāng |
The term 拍擊 / 拍击 describes a general slapping or hitting motion. If you are referring specifically to a slap delivered to the face, use the noun 耳光. To describe the action of slapping someone in the face, you can use the verb phrases 打耳光 or 扇耳光 or use the verb 打 with the informal phrase 打巴掌.
What does it mean word for word?
The noun 耳光 literally translates to 'ear light' or 'ear glow', which refers to the stinging sensation felt in the ear after being struck.
Which one should you use?
While 拍擊 / 拍击 can refer to a general slapping motion or even a lighter patting motion, 耳光 is strictly a noun used for a strike to the face. If you are using a verb, the word 拍擊 / 拍击 can mean both to slap forcefully and to pat lightly.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
pāijí
Did you know?
- The phrase 打臉 'to hit the face' is used as a popular internet slang term to describe someone being proven wrong by an unexpected turn of events.
- The verb 扇 (shàn) used in 扇耳光 (shàn ěrguāng) literally means 'to fan'. This evokes the sweeping, rhythmic motion of the hand moving through the air toward the face.
- The concept of 'face' 面子 is so central to Chinese culture that a slap 耳光 is viewed less as a physical assault and more as a profound psychological attack on one's social standing.
Examples in context
- 他气得忍不住大力打了他一个巴掌。He was so angry that he couldn't help but give him a hard slap on the face.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slap” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
