Meaning of 座
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- 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 to use 座
As a classifier, 座 is used for large things that stay put, like mountains, bridges, buildings and cities. It also means seat in words like 座位 (zuòwèi) and 让座 (ràngzuò). Example: 这座山很高。(Zhè zuò shān hěn gāo.) This mountain is very high.
座 (zuò) contains 坐 (zuò, to sit) under a roof shape 广. Picture a place under a roof where people sit, which gives you a seat, and by extension anything solid and fixed in place.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 座 (seat, classifier) with 坐 (to sit), since both are read zuò. Remember that 坐 is the verb and has no roof, while 座 is the noun or classifier and has the 广 on top.
座 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
座 zuò · seat · 10 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 座.
| 座位 | zuòwèi | seat |
| 讲座 | jiǎngzuò | course of lectures; lecture series; chair (academic position) |
| 让座 | ràngzuò | to give up one's seat for sb |
| 座谈会 | zuòtánhuì | conference; symposium |
| 星座 | xīngzuò | constellation; astrological sign |
| 座右铭 | zuòyòumíng | motto; maxim |
| 就座 | jiùzuò | to take a seat |
| 座谈 | zuòtán | to have an informal discussion |
| 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 |
Questions about 座
What does 座 mean?
座 (zuò) means "seat; base; stand" and is used as a measure word.
How do you write 座?
座 is made of 1 character: 座 (10 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 座 an HSK word?
Yes. 座 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
Can I use 个 instead of 座 for buildings and mountains?
In casual speech 个 (gè) is sometimes heard, but 座 sounds more natural and correct for large fixed objects like 一座桥 (yí zuò qiáo, a bridge). For a single room or apartment you would not use 座.
Why does 星座 mean astrological sign?
星座 (xīngzuò) literally pairs star with seat, so a constellation is seen as a fixed position of stars. In everyday chat, people ask 你是什么星座？(Nǐ shì shénme xīngzuò?) to mean What is your star sign?