专座 (zhuān zuò) — reserved seat, designated seat

Definition

专座 is a seat set aside for a specific group or named person — like priority seating on trains (for elderly or disabled) or labeled spots in a meeting room. Unlike a regular empty seat, sitting here without reason is inappropriate.

noun
reserved seatdesignated seat
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 专座，。
    Zhè shì lǎo rén zhuān zuò, qǐng nín ràng yí xià.
    This is a seat reserved for the elderly; please yield it.
  • 专座，。
    Huǒ chē shàng yǒu cán jí rén zhuān zuò, qí tā rén bù néng zuò.
    There are designated seats for the disabled on the train; others cannot sit there.
  • 专座。
    Huì yì shì lǐ de zhuān zuò dōu biāo yǒu míng zì.
    The reserved seats in the conference room are all labeled with names.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

专zhuānspecial
座zuòseat

专 (special) and 座 (seat) combine to mean a special reserved seat.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 專; 专 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 專 shows 又, a hand, turning 叀, a spindle; this came to mean gathering several things into one.

Open 专 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
广广guǎnghouse on cliff
Sound part声符shēngfú
坐
坐zuò座zuò
Same sound today

座 pairs 广, a house on a cliff, with 坐 to give the sound.

Open 座 →

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