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交椅 (jiāo yī) — ancient folding chair; (figurative) position, post, especially a leadership role

Definition

A 交椅 is literally an ancient folding armchair, but in modern use it almost always appears in the idiom 第一把交椅 ('the top seat') to mean the leading position.

noun
ancient folding chair(figurative) positionpostespecially a leadership role
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 交椅。
    Zhè bǎ jiāo yī shì míng dài de gǔ dǒng.
    This folding chair is a Ming dynasty antique.
  • 交椅。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ zuò le dì yī bǎ jiāo yī.
    He holds the top position in the company.
  • ，交椅。
    Zài zhè ge háng yè lǐ, tā de jiāo yī méi rén néng dài tì.
    In this industry, his position cannot be replaced.

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.

交jiāocrossing/folding
椅yǐchair

'交' (crossing/folding) and '椅' (chair) name a chair with crossed legs.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

交 originally drew a human with crossed legs. In the modern shape, the upper part resembles a standing person.

Open 交 →

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
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
奇
奇qí椅yǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

椅 combines 木 (wood) with 奇, which gives its sound.

Open 椅 →
Appears in
FurnitureSocial Roles & Status

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