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March 24, 2026
披pī(pi1)
The verb 披 (pī) primarily means to drape over one’s shoulders or to spread out. It is commonly used in contexts where clothing or a covering is placed over the body, as well as in situations involving opening or unrolling, such as a scroll or a piece of fabric. The nuance often conveys a sense of elegance or care in the way something is worn or displayed.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#4264DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, wearing a silk scarf or shawl is often seen as a sign of sophistication and grace, especially in formal settings. The act of draping such clothing can also symbolize respect and elegance in ceremonies and gatherings.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person named 'Penny' who loves to wear a beautiful shawl. She 'pees' (pronounced like 'pī') in joy as she drapes it over her shoulders, showcasing it to her friends. The character 披 resembles a person elegantly draping a shawl, with the top horizontal line symbolizing the shoulders and the rest flowing down.
Meanings of 披
pī(pi1)
1to drape over one's shoulders
2to open
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 披
披Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4264Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 披
Podcast: 披
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AI Study Notes for 披
Quick Contrast
披 (pī) vs 盖 (gài) — use 披 for draping or elegantly wearing something, while 盖 refers to covering something completely.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 披 with other similar verbs like 穿 (chuān), which means 'to wear' in a more general sense. 披 is typically used for draping or covering, especially with shawls or capes. Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 披 connects well with other verbs describing actions related to clothing and movement. Students should focus on its usage in various contexts, especially in fashion and presentation, to understand the subtleties of draping and displaying.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 披 with 打开 (dǎkāi), which means 'to open,' when referring to clothing. A common mistake is saying '我打开外套' (wǒ dǎkāi wàitào) instead of '我披上外套' (wǒ pī shàng wàitào).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 披
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Learning Lab
Knowing 披 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
How to say to drape over one's shoulders in Chinese
“to drape over one's shoulders” in Chinese is披pī
The verb 披 (pī) primarily means to drape over one’s shoulders or to spread out. It is commonly used in contexts where clothing or a covering is placed over the body, as well as in situations involving opening or unrolling, such as a scroll or a piece of fabric. The nuance often conveys a sense of elegance or care in the way something is worn or displayed.
When to use 披
Learners often confuse 披 with other similar verbs like 穿 (chuān), which means 'to wear' in a more general sense. 披 is typically used for draping or covering, especially with shawls or capes. Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
披 or something close to it
披 (pī) vs 盖 (gài) — use 披 for draping or elegantly wearing something, while 盖 refers to covering something completely.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 披 with 打开 (dǎkāi), which means 'to open,' when referring to clothing. A common mistake is saying '我打开外套' (wǒ dǎkāi wàitào) instead of '我披上外套' (wǒ pī shàng wàitào).
Write 披
披
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Grammar Patterns of 披
披 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
任何隐藏的东西都是有害的（所以____露就等于安全）。
Whatever is hidden is harmful (hence revelation equals security).
