椅

yǐ

奇 + 木

Definitions

yǐ (noun) chair

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 奇 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 奇

About

椅 is a phono-semantic compound: the wood radical 木 on the left indicates the material, and 奇 on the right gives the sound. Originally it named a species of tree valued for its timber, but the meaning shifted completely to "chair" or "seat with a backrest" as raised seating became common in households. Now it is the standard word for chairs of any construction, whether wood, metal, or synthetic materials.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我坐在椅子上。

Wǒ zuò zài yǐzi shàng.

I sit on the chair.

那把椅子很旧。

Nà bǎ yǐzi hěn jiù.

That chair is very old.

请把椅子搬过来。

Qǐng bǎ yǐzi bān guòlái.

Please move the chair over.

他需要一把新椅子。

Tā xūyào yī bǎ xīn yǐzi.

He needs a new chair.

轮椅放在走廊里。

Lúnyǐ fàng zài zǒuláng lǐ.

The wheelchair is placed in the corridor.

孩子们围着椅子玩游戏。

Háizimen wéizhe yǐzi wán yóuxì.

The children are playing games around the chair.

这把椅子的设计非常现代。

Zhè bǎ yǐzi de shèjì fēicháng xiàndài.

The design of this chair is very modern.

由于椅子不够，我们不得不从隔壁房间借了几把。

Yóuyú yǐzi búgòu, wǒmen bùdébù cóng gébì fángjiān jièle jǐ bǎ.

Because there were not enough chairs, we had to borrow a few from the next room.

Related Characters

Component: 奇

Component: 木

椅