Learn Hardcore Japanese: haha ha kata ni sippu wo hatte ita node, kyou ha omoi nimotu wo motasenakatta. - My mother had a pain-relief patch on her shoulder, so I did not let her carry heavy luggage today.

母はは　は　肩かた　に　湿布しっぷ　を　貼はって　いた　ので、　今日きょう　は　重おもい　荷物にもつ　を　持もたせなかった。haha wa kata ni shippu o hatte ita node, kyou wa omoi nimotsu o motasenakatta.

My mother had a pain-relief patch on her shoulder, so I did not let her carry heavy luggage today.

Breakdown of haha wa kata ni shippu o hatte ita node, kyou wa omoi nimotsu o motasenakatta.

はwa

topic particle

をo

direct object particle

Questions & Answers about haha wa kata ni shippu o hatte ita node, kyou wa omoi nimotsu o motasenakatta.

Why is 母 marked with は?

は marks 母 as the topic: As for my mother...

It does not just mean subject in a mechanical way. Here it sets up the person the sentence is about, and the rest of the sentence gives information about her situation.

If the sentence used が instead, it would sound more like it was identifying or focusing on mother specifically. With は, the sentence feels more like normal narration.

Why is it 肩に湿布を貼る and not 肩を湿布を貼る?

With 貼る, the thing being attached takes を, and the place or target surface takes に.

So:

湿布を貼る = attach/apply the patch
肩に貼る = attach it to the shoulder

Put together:

肩に湿布を貼る = apply a patch to the shoulder

This pattern is very common with verbs of attaching or placing something somewhere.

What exactly does 湿布 mean?

湿布 is a medicated patch, compress, or poultice used for pain relief, especially for stiff shoulders, back pain, muscle pain, and similar problems.

In everyday Japanese, it often refers to those adhesive pain-relief patches people stick on the body. So in this sentence, it is not just any sticker; it is a medical or therapeutic patch.

Why is it 貼っていた instead of just 貼った?