dab

Compared meaning: to touch lightly (verb).

比较义项：轻拍（动词）。

• pat

  A gentle, often repeated touch with the flat hand, usually showing affection or comfort, as with a person, pet, or animal.

  指用张开的手掌轻柔地、有时反复地触碰，通常用来表达安慰或喜爱之情，比如轻拍某人的后背或宠物的头。

  He patted his son on the back to comfort him.

  他轻拍儿子的背，安慰他。

• dab 本词

  A quick, light touch, usually to apply or remove a small amount of a substance like paint, cream, or makeup, not to show affection.

  指快速轻触一下，通常是为了蘸取或涂抹少量物质（如油漆、药膏或化妆品），而不是表达感情。

  He dabbed a little paint on the wall to fix the scratch.

  他往墙上的划痕处轻轻涂了一点油漆。

Pat and dab both mean to touch lightly. Pat usually means touching gently, with the flat hand, to show affection or comfort, as with a person or pet. Dab means touching quickly and lightly, to apply a small amount of a substance like paint.

这两个词在“轻拍”这个意义上相近，但用法不同：pat 通常指用手掌温和地、有时反复地拍打，常用来表达安慰或喜爱之情；dab 强调快速轻触一下，多用于蘸取或涂抹少量物质，而不是表达感情。

Compared meaning: a light touch (noun).

比较义项：轻拍/轻触（名词）。

• tap

  Tap suggests a quick, light knock or contact, often making a soft sound, used to get attention or check something, rather than an affectionate touch with the hand.

  tap 表示快速轻微的叩击或接触，常常发出轻响，用于引起注意或试探（例如敲门），而不是用手表达关爱的触摸。

  There was a soft tap at the door before it opened.

  门上传来轻轻的一声叩击，随后门开了。

• pat

  Pat specifically means a light touch with the flat of the hand, often gentle and affectionate or reassuring, as when comforting a person or animal.

  pat 特指用手掌轻柔地拍打，常带有关爱、安慰或鼓励的意味，比如安抚一个人或一只动物。

  She gave the dog a gentle pat on its head.

  她轻轻拍了拍狗的头。

• dab 本词

  Dab refers to a light touch that applies a small amount of a substance, such as paint or cream, to a surface, rather than a knock or an affectionate touch.

  dab 指轻轻一触，将少量物质（如颜料或药膏）涂抹到表面上，而不是叩击声或充满关爱的触碰。

  She applied a dab of paint to cover the tiny scratch.

  她涂了一点颜料来遮盖那道小划痕。

Tap, pat, and dab all name a light touch. Tap suggests a quick, light knock, used to get attention, not affectionate. Pat means a light touch with the flat hand, gentle or reassuring. Dab means a light touch that applies a small amount of paint.

这三个词都表示轻柔的触碰，但方式和含义不同：tap强调用手指、指关节或物体发出的轻快叩击（常有轻响），多用于敲门或引起注意；pat特指用手掌轻柔地拍打，常带有关爱、安慰或鼓励的意味；dab则指轻轻一点的接触，常用于把少量物质（如颜料、药膏）涂抹到表面上。这里不比较tap作为“水龙头”的义项，也不比较pat和dab作为动词“轻拍/轻触”的用法。