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招牌 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
招牌zhāopaisignboardHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #9250, Very Hard
招牌zhāopaishop signHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #9250, Very Hard
招牌zhāopaireputation of a businessHSK 7, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #9250, Very Hard
zhāopai(zhao1pai5) T1
  1. 1signboard
  2. 2shop sign
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

招牌zhāopai(zhao1pai5)

招牌 (zhāopái) refers to a signboard or shop sign that displays the name of a business or establishment. It can also indicate the reputation or signature quality of a business, often used in contexts where a particular item or service is renowned.

Strokes20Frequency#9250DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, a well-designed 招牌 can significantly impact a business's success, as it reflects not just the name but also the style and quality of the service or goods offered, often drawing customers in.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright, colorful sign (招) that invites you in, and a big board (牌) hanging above the entrance. Think of 'zhao' as inviting you to a party, and 'pai' as the sign that tells you where to go for fun!

Meanings of 招牌

zhāopai(zhao1pai5)
1signboard
2shop sign
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 招牌

招牌Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

Podcast: 招牌

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Podcast: 招牌

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AI Study Notes for 招牌

Quick Contrast

招牌 (zhāopái) vs 标牌 (biāopái) — use 招牌 when referring specifically to a shop sign or a signature quality, while 标牌 is more general and can refer to any type of sign or label.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 招牌 with similar terms like 标志 (biāozhì), which means 'logo.' 招牌 is more informal and often used in everyday conversation, while 标志 might be used in more formal contexts. Remember that it can refer to the sign itself or the reputation of a business.

HSK Study Tips

Although 招牌 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it combines familiar characters: 招 (to invite) and 牌 (card, plate). Students should focus on recognizing the characters and understanding how they can convey both tangible and intangible meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 招牌 with 招待 (zhāodài), which means 'to entertain' or 'to receive guests.' For example, saying '我有一个招牌' (I have a signboard) when they mean 'I can entertain guests' is incorrect; they should use 招待 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 招牌

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Component Characters

招zhāoto recruit
HSK 68 strokes扌
View full entry
牌páimahjong tile
HSK 412 strokes片
View full entry

How to say signboard in Chinese

“signboard” in Chinese is招牌zhāopai

招牌 (zhāopái) refers to a signboard or shop sign that displays the name of a business or establishment. It can also indicate the reputation or signature quality of a business, often used in contexts where a particular item or service is renowned.

When to use 招牌

Be careful not to confuse 招牌 with similar terms like 标志 (biāozhì), which means 'logo.' 招牌 is more informal and often used in everyday conversation, while 标志 might be used in more formal contexts. Remember that it can refer to the sign itself or the reputation of a business.

招牌 or something close to it

招牌 (zhāopái) vs 标牌 (biāopái) — use 招牌 when referring specifically to a shop sign or a signature quality, while 标牌 is more general and can refer to any type of sign or label.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 招牌 with 招待 (zhāodài), which means 'to entertain' or 'to receive guests.' For example, saying '我有一个招牌' (I have a signboard) when they mean 'I can entertain guests' is incorrect; they should use 招待 instead.

Write 招牌

招
牌

Practice writing 招牌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 招牌

It means both the physical signboard of a business and its reputation.

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