B2 verb Neutral 3 min read

佩戴

pèidài pèi dài
Practice it

Overview

The word '佩戴' (pèi dài) is a verb in Chinese that specifically refers to the act of wearing or putting on accessories, jewelry, badges, medals, or other items that are typically worn for decorative, symbolic, or functional purposes, rather than for basic clothing like shirts or trousers. It implies a certain level of intentionality in choosing and displaying these items.

Let's break down the two characters:

  1. 1佩 (pèi): This character primarily means 'to wear' or 'to carry (on the person),' often with an emphasis on items that are attached or hung, such as ornaments, swords, or seals. It evokes a sense of adorning oneself or carrying something significant.
  1. 1戴 (dài): This character also means 'to wear' or 'to put on,' and it's a more general term for wearing various items, including hats, glasses, watches, gloves, and jewelry. When used in conjunction with '佩,' it reinforces the idea of wearing something that is not part of one's main attire but rather an additional item.

Together, '佩戴' creates a more formal and specific nuance compared to the more general '穿' (chuān), which is used for wearing clothes (e.g., 穿衣服 - chuān yīfú - to wear clothes). While you might '戴' a hat (戴帽子 - dài màozi), '佩戴' is more appropriate for items like:

  • 首饰 (shǒushì): Jewelry (e.g., 佩戴项链 - pèi dài xiàngliàn - to wear a necklace; 佩戴戒指 - pèi dài jièzhǐ - to wear a ring)
  • 徽章 (huīzhāng): Badges (e.g., 佩戴校徽 - pèi dài xiàohuī - to wear a school badge)
  • 奖章 (jiǎngzhāng): Medals (e.g., 佩戴奖章 - pèi dài jiǎngzhāng - to wear a medal)
  • 饰品 (shìpǐn): Ornaments/accessories in general (e.g., 佩戴发饰 - pèi dài fàshì - to wear hair accessories)
  • 眼镜 (yǎnjìng): Glasses (though '戴眼镜' is more common, '佩戴眼镜' is also grammatically correct and emphasizes the act of putting them on)
  • 口罩 (kǒuzhào): Face masks (especially in a more formal context, though '戴口罩' is also common)

Usage Contexts:

'佩戴' is often used in contexts where there's an emphasis on the item's significance, formality, or decorative nature. For example, when describing someone attending a formal event wearing exquisite jewelry, or a student proudly displaying a school badge, '佩戴' would be the ideal verb.

Examples:

  • 她喜欢佩戴各种时尚的首饰。 (Tā xǐhuān pèi dài gè zhǒng shíshàng de shǒushì.) - She likes to wear all kinds of fashionable jewelry.
  • 请佩戴好您的胸卡。 (Qǐng pèi dài hǎo nín de xiōngkǎ.) - Please wear your ID badge properly.
  • 在重要的仪式上，他佩戴着家族的徽章。 (Zài zhòngyào de yíshì shàng, tā pèi dài zhe jiāzú de huīzhāng.) - At the important ceremony, he wore his family's emblem.
  • 为了安全，进入实验室必须佩戴防护眼镜。 (Wèile ānquán, jìnrù shíyànshì bìxū pèi dài fánghù yǎnjìng.) - For safety, protective eyewear must be worn when entering the laboratory.

In summary, '佩戴' is a precise and often more formal verb for 'to wear' when referring to accessories, jewelry, badges, and other non-clothing items, highlighting their decorative, symbolic, or specific functional purpose.

Examples

1

她喜欢佩戴各种时尚的耳环。

耳环

She likes to wear all sorts of fashionable earrings.

2

为了表示对会议的重视，他特意佩戴了领带。

领带

To show the importance he placed on the meeting, he specifically wore a tie.

3

医护人员在工作中需要佩戴口罩和手套。

口罩和手套

Medical staff need to wear masks and gloves when working.

4

他脖子上佩戴着一枚珍贵的玉坠。

玉坠

He was wearing a precious jade pendant around his neck.

5

军队在训练时佩戴着沉重的装备。

装备

The army wore heavy equipment during training.

Common Collocations

佩戴首饰
佩戴徽章
佩戴眼镜
佩戴手套

Often Confused With

佩戴 vs 穿戴

While both mean 'to wear,' 佩戴 (pèi dài) specifically refers to wearing accessories, jewelry, badges, or items that are ornamental, symbolic, or for identification. 穿戴 (chuān dài) is a more general term for wearing clothes and accessories together. For example, you 佩戴 (pèi dài) a necklace, but you 穿戴 (chuān dài) clothes.

佩戴 vs 戴

戴 (dài) is a single character verb meaning 'to wear' and can often be used interchangeably with 佩戴 (pèi dài) for accessories, jewelry, glasses, hats, etc. However, 佩戴 (pèi dài) often carries a slightly more formal or respectful nuance, especially when referring to badges, medals, or ceremonial items. 戴 (dài) is more common in everyday speech.

佩戴 vs 穿

穿 (chuān) means 'to wear' specifically for clothing, shoes, or items that cover the body. You 穿 (chuān) a shirt, pants, or shoes. You would not use 穿 (chuān) for a necklace or a watch, for which 佩戴 (pèi dài) or 戴 (dài) would be appropriate.

Grammar Patterns

主体 + 佩戴 + 饰品/配件 (e.g., 她佩戴着一条项链。- She is wearing a necklace.) 主体 + 佩戴 + 徽章/证件 (e.g., 他佩戴着校徽。- He is wearing the school badge.) 佩戴 + 方式 (e.g., 正确佩戴安全帽。- Wear the safety helmet correctly.)

How to Use It

Usage Notes

The word '佩戴' (pèidài) is a formal and somewhat elevated term for 'to wear,' specifically used for accessories, jewelry, badges, medals, or items that are hung or attached to the body for adornment, identification, or symbolic purposes. It is generally not used for clothing like shirts or pants. For clothing, more common verbs like '穿' (chuān, to wear clothes) or '戴' (dài, to wear hats, gloves, glasses) are preferred. '佩戴' emphasizes the act of attaching or hanging something on the person. For example, one would '佩戴' a necklace (项链), a watch (手表), a medal (奖章), or a school badge (校徽). While '戴' can sometimes overlap (e.g., '戴手表' is also common), '佩戴' conveys a slightly more formal and complete sense of wearing an accessory. It is often seen in written contexts, official announcements, or when describing formal attire or items of significance.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is confusing 佩戴 (pèidài) with other verbs for wearing, such as 穿 (chuān) which is used for clothing, or 戴 (dài) which can be used on its own for wearing accessories but 佩戴 is more formal and often implies a decorative item. 佩戴 emphasizes the act of adorning or displaying, often with a sense of care or importance.

Tips

💡

Usage Tip

'佩戴' (pèidài) specifically refers to wearing accessories or items for decoration, such as jewelry, badges, medals, or glasses. It implies a sense of attachment or adornment rather than simply putting on clothes.

💡

Common Pitfall

Do not confuse '佩戴' (pèidài) with '穿' (chuān) or '戴' (dài). While '戴' can be used for some accessories like hats or watches, '佩戴' emphasizes a more formal or ornamental wearing. '穿' is exclusively for clothing.

💡

Contextual Nuance

Consider the formality and purpose. '佩戴' is often used in more formal contexts or when the item being worn has a specific significance, like a uniform badge or a ceremonial medal. For everyday items like a simple watch, '戴' (dài) might be more common.

Word Origin

The character '佩' (pèi) originally referred to ornaments worn at the waist, often made of jade or other precious materials. Its radical '人' (rén) means 'person,' indicating something worn by a person. The character '戴' (dài) means 'to wear' or 'to put on,' particularly referring to things worn on the head or body as decoration or for practical purposes. The combination '佩戴' thus emphasizes the action of wearing accessories or ornaments, often those that are decorative or significant. Over time, its usage has broadened to include various items like badges, glasses, or jewelry.

Cultural Context

In Chinese culture, the act of '佩戴' (pèidài) goes beyond mere adornment; it often carries significant cultural, symbolic, and even spiritual meaning. For example, jade ornaments are highly valued not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for their association with protection, good fortune, and longevity. Wearing jade can be seen as a way to connect with ancestral wisdom and promote well-being. Similarly, specific jewelry or accessories might be worn during festivals, ceremonies, or important life events, signifying status, affiliation, or personal milestones. The choice of what to '佩戴' can also reflect personal taste, social conventions, and a desire to express one's identity within a cultural framework. The meaning behind the accessory often enriches the act of wearing it.

Memory Tip

The character '佩' (pèi) has the radical '亻' (rén) for person and '咅' (pǒu) which sounds like 'pay'. Imagine a person paying to wear a nice accessory. The character '戴' (dài) has the radical '戈' (gē) for dagger/halberd and '異' (yì) for different/unusual. Imagine wearing something unusual that looks like a dagger as an accessory.

Frequently Asked Questions

4 questions

'佩戴' (pèidài) is a Chinese verb that means 'to wear' or 'to adorn oneself with,' specifically referring to accessories, jewelry, badges, or other items that are worn on the body as an embellishment, for identification, or for a particular purpose. It implies a conscious act of putting on something that is typically decorative or symbolic, rather than essential clothing. For instance, you might '佩戴' a necklace, a watch, a medal, or a pair of glasses.

Certainly! Here are a few examples: 1. 她喜欢佩戴各种时尚的首饰。(Tā xǐhuān pèidài gè zhǒng shíshàng de shǒushì.) - She likes to wear all kinds of fashionable jewelry. 2. 这位官员胸前佩戴着一枚勋章。(Zhè wèi guānyuán xiōngqián pèidài zhe yī méi xūnzhāng.) - This official is wearing a medal on his chest. 3. 请在参观时佩戴好您的访客证。(Qǐng zài cānguān shí pèidài hǎo nín de fǎngkè zhèng.) - Please wear your visitor's badge properly during the visit. 4. 他总是佩戴一副金丝眼镜。(Tā zǒng shì pèidài yī fù jīnsī yǎnjìng.) - He always wears a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

The main difference lies in what is being worn. '穿' (chuān) is a general verb for wearing clothes, shoes, or anything that covers the body. For example, you '穿' a shirt, pants, or a coat. '佩戴' (pèidài), on the other hand, is specifically used for accessories, jewelry, badges, or items that are added to one's attire for decoration, status, or function, rather than being primary garments. Think of it as 'donning' or 'adorning oneself with' something smaller or more decorative. You wouldn't typically '佩戴' a shirt, but you would '佩戴' a tie or a brooch.

While '佩戴' is quite specific, there are some related terms depending on the context. For simply 'wearing' an accessory, '戴' (dài) is a very common and more casual synonym, often used for items like hats, glasses, watches, or jewelry. For instance, you could say '戴帽子' (dài màozi - to wear a hat) or '戴项链' (dài xiàngliàn - to wear a necklace). However, '佩戴' often carries a slightly more formal or deliberate connotation, especially for items of significance like medals or badges. Another, less common, synonym could be '挂' (guà), meaning to hang, if the item is explicitly hung on the body.

Test Yourself

fill blank

她喜欢在头上______各种漂亮的发饰。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
fill blank

他习惯______一块手表，看时间很方便。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:
fill blank

为了安全起见，所有进入实验室的人都必须______护目镜。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer:

Score: /3

Related Content

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!