Usage note
牌表示卡片、牌子，也可指牌类游戏。
pái biǎo shì kǎ piàn 、 pái zi， yě kě zhǐ pái lèi yóu xì。
Card/sign can mean a card or sign, and it can also refer to card games.
Context note
牌常出现在牌子、号码牌和商标里。
pái cháng chū xiàn zài pái zi 、 hào mǎ pái hé shāng biāo lǐ。
Sign/card often appears in signs, number plates, and trademarks.
5 examples
这块牌子很大。
zhè kuài pái zi hěn dà。
This sign is very big.
请看牌。
qǐng kàn pái。
Please look at the sign/card.
门口有牌子。
mén kǒu yǒu pái zi。
There is a sign at the door.
他拿着号码牌。
tā ná zhe hào mǎ pái。
He is holding a number card.
这是什么牌？
zhè shì shén me pái？
What brand is this?
5 mini stories
商店门口挂着一块很亮的牌子。
shāng diàn mén kǒu guà zhe yí kuài hěn liàng de pái zi。
A bright sign hangs at the store entrance.
老师让我们看黑板旁边的牌。
lǎo shī ràng wǒ men kàn hēi bǎn páng biān de pái。
The teacher asked us to look at the sign next to the blackboard.
我在桌上看见一个号码牌。
wǒ zài zhuō shàng kàn jiàn yí gè hào mǎ pái。
I saw a number card on the table.
这個牌子上写着今天的活动。
zhè gè pái zi shàng xiě zhe jīn tiān de huó dòng。
This sign says today's activity.
他把牌子举起来，让大家都看见。
tā bǎ pái zi jǔ qǐ lái， ràng dà jiā dōu kàn jiàn。
He held up the sign so everyone could see it.
Mini dialogue
买牛奶
A
你喜欢哪个牌子的牛奶？
Nǐ xǐhuān nǎge páizi de niúnǎi?
Which brand of milk do you like?
B
我喜欢这个牌子的，很好喝。
Wǒ xǐhuān zhège páizi de, hěn hǎohē.
I like this brand, it's very tasty.
新衣服
A
你的衣服是什么牌子的？
Nǐ de yīfu shì shénme páizi de?
What brand is your clothing?
B
我不知道，妈妈买的。
Wǒ bù zhīdào, māma mǎi de.
I don't know, my mom bought it.
Related words and contrasts
similar
商标
shāng biāo
trademark
A symbol or name that represents a brand.
related
名牌
míng pái
famous brand
A well-known brand.