满座 (mǎn zuò) — (of a venue) to be filled to capacity; to have a full house; (of people) to be present in full attendance

Definition

Literary/formal phrase meaning a venue is filled to capacity. Most often used in writing or announcements rather than everyday speech.

verb
(of a venue) to be filled to capacityto have a full house(of people) to be present in full attendance

Examples

  • 满座，。
    Jīn wǎn de diàn yǐng yuàn mǎn zuò le, yì zhāng piào dōu mǎi bú dào.
    The cinema is full tonight — you can't buy a single ticket.
  • 满座。
    Zhè jiā xīn kāi de cān tīng měi tiān dōu mǎn zuò.
    This newly opened restaurant is full every day.
  • 满座，。
    Yǎn jiǎng tīng nèi gāo péng mǎn zuò, qì fen fēi cháng rè liè.
    The lecture hall was packed with distinguished guests, and the atmosphere was very lively.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

满mǎnfill
座zuòseat

满 means fill and 座 means seats, together saying that all seats are filled.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒼
㒼㒼滿mǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 满 →

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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