Definitions

zuò (verb) to sit; to take a seat
zuò (verb) to take (a vehicle)
zuò (verb) to bear fruit

Etymology

Depicts two people () sitting on the ground ().

About

The character "坐" is structurally composed of two "人" positioned above "土", depicting individuals seated on the ground and directly conveying the act of sitting. Etymologically, this configuration has consistently represented the core concept of taking a seated position. From this fundamental meaning, the character acquired extended uses, such as indicating the means of conveyance in phrases like 坐车, meaning "to travel by vehicle", and representing the bearing of legal responsibility in terms like 坐罪, meaning "to be punished for a crime". These semantic expansions occurred while the character's written form remained unchanged.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请你下休息。

Qǐng nǐ zuò xià xiūxi.

Please sit down and rest.

在椅子上。

Wǒ zuò zài yǐzi shàng.

I am sitting on the chair.

公交车上学。

Tā zuò gōngjiāochē shàng xué.

He takes the bus to school.

明天我们火车旅行。

Míngtiān wǒmen zuò huǒchē lǚxíng.

Tomorrow we will travel by train.

飞机来北京看我。

Tā zuò fēijī lái Běijīng kàn wǒ.

She is coming to Beijing by plane to see me.

老人在沙发上看报纸。

Lǎorén zuò zài shāfā shàng kàn bàozhǐ.

The old man is sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

我们等比赛结果。

Wǒmen zuò děng bǐsài jiéguǒ.

We are waiting for the competition results.

同学们在一起讨论问题。

Tóngxuémen zuò zài yīqǐ tǎolùn wèntí.

The classmates are sitting together discussing questions.