座 meaning and stroke order
Seat; base; stand; (bound form) constellation
How to write 座, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 座
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- seat
- base; stand
- (bound form) constellation
- (archaic) suffix used in a respectful form of address (e.g. 師座|师座[shi1 zuo4])
- classifier for large immovable objects such as buildings, mountains, bridges etc
How 座 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A wide 广 seat 坐; 坐 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 广 (broad), shared by 60 characters on this site.
How to remember 座
Picture 坐 (zuò, to sit) tucked under the roof of 广, a wide shelter. Sitting under a roof gives you a seat, 座 (zuò), and 坐 also gives the sound.
座 is used in nouns for seats and bases, like 座位 (zuòwèi, seat) and 星座 (xīngzuò, constellation). It is also the measure word for large fixed things such as mountains, bridges and buildings: 这座山很高 (zhè zuò shān hěn gāo) This mountain is very tall.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 座 and 坐 because they sound the same. 坐 is the verb "to sit", as in 请坐 (qǐng zuò), while 座 is the noun "seat" or the classifier, as in 座位 (zuòwèi).
Common words with 座
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 座位 | zuòwèi | seat | HSK 2 |
| 讲座 | jiǎngzuò | course of lectures; lecture series; chair (academic position) | HSK 4 |
| 让座 | ràngzuò | to give up one's seat for sb | HSK 6 |
| 座谈会 | zuòtánhuì | conference; symposium | HSK 6 |
| 星座 | xīngzuò | constellation; astrological sign | HSK 7-9 |
| 座右铭 | zuòyòumíng | motto; maxim | HSK 7-9 |
| 就座 | jiùzuò | to take a seat | HSK 7-9 |
| 座谈 | zuòtán | to have an informal discussion | HSK 7-9 |
| 后座 | hòuzuò | empress's throne; (fig.) first place in a women's competition | |
| 在座 | zàizuò | to be present | |
| 座椅 | zuòyǐ | seat | |
| 王座 | wángzuò | throne | |
| 宝座 | bǎozuò | throne | |
| 插座 | chāzuò | socket; outlet |
座 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 座
How many strokes are in 座?
座 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 座 mean?
座 (zuò) means seat; base; stand; (bound form) constellation. A common word with it is 座位 (zuòwèi), meaning "seat".
How do you pronounce 座?
座 is pronounced zuò, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 座?
The radical of 座 is 广, which carries the idea of "broad". Dictionaries list 座 under this radical.
Is 座 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 座 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
How do I ask what someone's star sign is in Chinese?
You can say 你是什么星座? (nǐ shì shénme xīngzuò?) What is your star sign? Star signs are a popular small talk topic among young people in China.
When should I use 座 instead of 个 for buildings?
座 is the more natural and slightly more formal classifier for large, immovable things like 一座桥 (yí zuò qiáo, a bridge) or 一座城市 (yí zuò chéngshì, a city). 个 is acceptable in casual speech, but 座 sounds more precise.