坐 zuò sit
sit; to travel by
How to remember 坐: 从 from + 土 earth = sit. Back from a long hike, the grandfather drops onto the warm earth and says "Now I just want to sit."
Component breakdown
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
坐 = 从 from + 土 earth
- 从 from meaning
- 人 person
- 人 person
- 土 earth meaning
Back from a long hike, the grandfather drops onto the warm earth and says "Now I just want to sit."
How it came to be
The small seal form joins a shortened sign for staying with the ground, the place where one stops.
How it is used
- 'Sit': 请坐 (qǐng zuò) please sit, 坐下 (zuòxià) sit down.
- Crucially it also means to travel BY a vehicle you sit in: 坐车 (zuò chē) go by car/bus, 坐飞机 (zuò fēijī) fly, 坐火车 (zuò huǒchē) take the train.
- For vehicles you straddle (bike, horse) use 骑 (qí), not 坐.
Characters built with 坐
Words with 坐
Example sentences
- 请坐。 Qǐng zuò.Please be seated.
- 大家坐在桌子旁边。 Dàjiā zuò zài zhuōzi pángbiān.Everyone's sitting at the table.