Comparing "chuan" and "dai"
While both 穿 (chuān) and 戴 (dài) mean “to wear” or “to put on” the body, different types of clothing or accessories use either 穿 (chuān) or 戴 (dài), but not both. These are set patterns and the two verbs are not interchangeable.
| 穿 (chuān) | 戴 (dài) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | to wear | to wear |
| Part of Speech | verb | verb |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
穿 (chuān) means "to wear" and is used for shirts, pants, shoes, socks
穿 (chuān) literally means "to pierce," and when used for clothing, it means that your body is "going through" the clothing in some way. This is especially true for shirts and pants. For shoes and socks, Your feet "go through" the shoes or socks, but don't come out on the other side. It still counts. Jackets, coats, vests all work like shorts and use 穿 (chuān) as well.
You'll notice that the most essential pieces of clothing use 穿 (chuān).
The following collocations using 穿 (chuān) are fixed:
- 穿 衣服 to wear clothes
- 穿 外套 to wear a coat
- 穿 裤子 to wear pants
- 穿 裙子 to wear a skirt or dress
- 穿 鞋子 to wear shoes
- 穿 袜子 to wear socks
戴 (dài) means "to wear" and is used for all kinds of accessories
When an article of clothing or an accessory simply "sits on" the body (like a hat or eyeglasses), wraps around it (like a belt or a scarf), or hangs from it (like an earring or a bracelet), the appropriate verb is 戴 (dài). Gloves and rings may seem to work like socks, which use 穿 (chuān), but both of those actually use 戴 (dài). (They're clearly accessories, after all.)
Note that this is a different verb from the 带 (dài) that means "to carry," although it is pronounced identically.
The following collocations using 戴 (dài) are fixed:
- 戴 眼镜 to wear glasses
- 戴 手套 to wear gloves
- 戴 帽子 to wear a hat
- 戴 围巾 to wear a scarf
- 戴 手表 to wear a watch
- 戴 口罩 to wear a mask
- 戴 戒指 to wear a ring
- 戴 项链 to wear a necklace
- 戴 领带 to wear a tie
- 戴 耳机 to wear headphones
- 戴 耳环 to wear earrings
Example sentences using 穿 (chuān) and 戴 (dài)
Note that the two verbs can be used together in a sentence, but the objects are not interchangeable.
Example Sentences
- 你 不 想 穿 袜子 的话 可以 穿 凉鞋。If you don't want to wear socks you can wear sandals.
- 夏天 到 了，女孩子 们 都 开始 穿 裙子 了。Summer is here and the girls are wearing dresses.
- 他 打 完 电话 穿 了 外套 就 出去 了。He finished his phone call, put on his coat and went out.
- 我 发现 你 今天 戴 了 一 条 新 围巾，真 漂亮！I noticed you're wearing a new scarf today. It's really pretty!
- 你 穿 这个 裙子 的话，应该 戴 这个 项链。You should wear this necklace if you wear this dress.
- 我 的 女儿 不 喜欢 穿 裙子，她 喜欢 穿 裤子。My daughter doesn't like to wear dresses. She likes to wear pants.
- 她 今天 戴 这了 口罩，我 没有 认出 她。She was wearing a face mask today so I didn't recognize her.
- 今天 我 出门 忘 戴 手表 了。I forgot to wear my watch when I went out today.
- 你 戴 眼镜 的 样子 更 漂亮。You look prettier with your glasses on.
- 今天 外面 很 冷 别 忘 了 戴 手套。It's cold outside today. Don't forget to wear gloves.
- 我 喜欢 戴 着 耳机 一边 听 音乐 一边 跑步。I like to run with my headphones on while listening to music.
- 我们 老板 今天 戴 了 一 条 新 领带，听说 是 他 的 秘书 送 给 他 的。 你 懂 的 。Our boss is wearing a new tie today. I heard it was given to him by his secretary. You know what that means.
