座位 (zuò wèi) — seat | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A physical seat to sit on — a chair spot in a theater, train, or classroom. Use 位置 for an abstract 'position/place' rather than something you sit on.

noun

seat

Measure word · 个

Examples

座位。
Qǐng bǎ wǒ yù yuē de zuò wèi gào sù wǒ.
Please tell me my reserved seat.
座位。
Huǒ chē shàng měi gè zuò wèi dōu yǒu hào mǎ.
Every seat on the train has a number.
座位。
Diàn yǐng yuàn lǐ yǒu sān bǎi gè zuò wèi.
There are three hundred seats in the cinema.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

位wèiposition

座 and 位 both refer to a place to sit, together meaning a seat.

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.

广坐座

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.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

立lì位wèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

位 combines 人 (man), related to people, with 立, which gives the sound. It was often simply written as 立.

Appears in

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