雅座 (yǎ zuò) — private booth or VIP seating area (in a restaurant, tea house, etc.)

Definition

A private, more upscale seating area in a restaurant or tea house, often curtained off and used for business or group meals. The counter at the entrance is 包厢.

noun
private booth or VIP seating area (in a restaurant, tea house, etc.)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 雅座，。
    Wǒ men dìng le yì jiān yǎ zuò, kě yǐ ān jìng dì tán shēng yì.
    We booked a private room so we can discuss business quietly.
  • 雅座，。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng de yǎ zuò huán jìng fēi cháng hǎo, fú wù yě hěn zhōu dào.
    The private seating area at this restaurant has a great atmosphere and attentive service.
  • 雅座，。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ ān pái yí gè yǎ zuò, wǒ men yí gòng liù gè rén.
    Please arrange a private booth for us; we have six people in total.

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.

雅yǎelegant
座zuòseat

雅 gives an elegant quality to 座, meaning comfortable or private seats.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
隹隹zhuīa short-tailed bird
Sound part声符shēngfú
牙
牙yá雅yǎ
Same sound today

雅 pairs 隹, a short-tailed bird, with 牙 as its sound part; the bird was a rook/crow, and the sense was extended to refined.

Open 雅 →

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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