貼 means “stick, paste”

はる · haru

Also: apply

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

はる, つく

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

テン, チョウ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 12 strokes

The story

A shell (貝) claiming its spot (占, as in 占める, to occupy): picture a stamp pressed onto an envelope. 貼る is to stick on, like a poster or a bandage, and 貼るカイロ, stick-on heat packs, get Japan's commuters through winter.

Used in 貼る (haru, to stick/paste), 貼り紙 (harigami, posted notice), and 貼り付け (haritsuke, pasting)

More from Grip, Rub & Twist

• 捻 twist
• 剝 peel
• 塡 fill
• 摘 pick out
• 振 wave
• 握 grip
• 携 carry
• 扱 handle
• 摩 rub
• 撲 strike
• 抽 draw out
• 据 set in place

Learn 貼 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.