What does 拍 mean in Chinese?

拍 (pāi) means "to pat; to clap; to slap; to swat; to take (a photo); to shoot (a film); racket (sports); beat (music)" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

How do you pronounce 拍?

拍 is pronounced "pāi" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 拍?

拍 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 5 on the old exam, HSK 4 on the new one.

What words contain the character 拍?

Common words with 拍 include 偷拍 (to take a picture of a person without permission or without their knowledge), 合拍 (in time with (i.e. same rhythm)), 吹拍 (to resort to bragging and flattering), 实拍 (candid photograph), 打拍 (to beat time).

How do you write 拍?

You can practice writing 拍 using our stroke order tool.

拍 (pāi), to pat

拍

pāi

to pat; to clap; to slap; to swat

HSK 4 Was HSK 5verb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 手 (no. 64)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to pat
to clap
to slap
to swat
to take (a photo)
to shoot (a film)
racket (sports)
beat (music)

Example Sentences

大家一起拍手为获奖者鼓掌表示祝贺和赞赏。

Dàjiā yīqǐ pāishǒu wèi huòjiǎngzhě gǔzhǎng biǎoshì zhùhè hé zànshǎng

Everyone clapped together for the award winners to express congratulations and appreciation

Words Containing 拍

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
偷拍	tōu pāi	to take a picture of a person without permission or without their knowledge
合拍	hé pāi	in time with (i.e. same rhythm)
吹拍	chuī pāi	to resort to bragging and flattering
实拍	shí pāi	candid photograph
打拍	dǎ pāi	to beat time

Related Words

拍子(pāi zi)· beat (music)

→

劈啪(pī pā)· (onom.) for crack, slap, clap, clatter etc

→

噼(pī)· child's buttocks (esp. Cantonese)

→

左右开弓(zuǒ yòu kāi gōng)· lit. to shoot from both sides (idiom)

→

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 4
HSK 2.0: HSK 5
HSK Lord study list: HSK 3 list

拍: HSK 5 on the old exam, HSK 4 on the new one. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 4 exam

Studying for HSK 4? Keep 拍 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 4 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.