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March 24, 2026
席xí(Xi2)
The character 席 (xí) primarily means 'seat' or 'mat' and is often used in the context of banquets or gatherings. It can refer to a physical place to sit, as well as metaphorically to denote participation in discussions or assemblies, such as in a democratic context.
Strokes10Radical巾Frequency#6765DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, seating arrangements at banquets are significant, often reflecting social hierarchies and relationships. The placement of guests at the table can indicate respect and status.
Memory Tip
Imagine a woven mat laid out for a banquet. The shape of the character 席 resembles the outline of a mat, with the top part suggesting a covering. Picture yourself seated (xí) on this mat, enjoying a gathering, which links the visual form to its meaning.
Meanings of 席
xí(Xi2)
1woven mat
2seat
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 席
席Simplified
10Strokes
巾Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6765Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 席
Podcast: 席
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AI Study Notes for 席
Quick Contrast
席 (xí) vs 椅 (yǐ): use 席 for formal or ceremonial seating, while 椅 refers to an everyday chair.
Usage Notes
When using 席, be careful with its context; it's often used in more formal settings like banquets or meetings. Common collocations include '宴席' (yànxí - banquet) and '会议席' (huìyìxí - conference seat). Remember to use the correct tone (second tone) to avoid confusion with other meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 席 is not in the HSK levels, it connects well with HSK 2 vocabulary related to seating (e.g., 椅子 yǐzi - chair). Focus on learning its usage in formal contexts to enhance your understanding of social gatherings in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 席 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, saying '椅' (yǐ - chair) when referring to a banquet seat is incorrect. Always use 席 (xí) in those contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 席
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The character 席 (xí) primarily means 'seat' or 'mat' and is often used in the context of banquets or gatherings. It can refer to a physical place to sit, as well as metaphorically to denote participation in discussions or assemblies, such as in a democratic context.
When to use 席
When using 席, be careful with its context; it's often used in more formal settings like banquets or meetings. Common collocations include '宴席' (yànxí - banquet) and '会议席' (huìyìxí - conference seat). Remember to use the correct tone (second tone) to avoid confusion with other meanings.
席 or something close to it
席 (xí) vs 椅 (yǐ): use 席 for formal or ceremonial seating, while 椅 refers to an everyday chair.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 席 with other similar-sounding characters. For example, saying '椅' (yǐ - chair) when referring to a banquet seat is incorrect. Always use 席 (xí) in those contexts.
Write 席
席
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Grammar Patterns of 席
席 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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Word Family of 席
Compounds2
褯
蓆
Words Containing This Character20
主席zhǔxíchairperson
出席chūxíto attend
首席shǒuxíchief (representative, correspondent etc)
毛主席Chairman Mao
席xíseat
缺席quēxíabsence
副主席vice-chairperson
席位xíwèia seat (in a theater, stadium etc)
一席之地(acknowledged) place
席卷to engulf席捲
证人席witness stand or box證人席
宴席banquet
国家主席president (title of the head of state of China and several other nations)國家主席
列席to attend a meeting as a nonvoting delegate
主席团presidium主席團
酒席feast
主席台rostrum主席臺
联席会议joint conference聯席會議
座无虚席full house座無虛席
入席to take one's seat
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 席
What does 主席 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 席
席 (xí) typically refers to a more formal seat or a banquet setting, while 座 (zuò) is a more general term for any seat. For example, 席 is often used in contexts like banquets and gatherings, whereas 座 can refer to seats in a theater, a car, or any other place.
Common phrases with 席 include '宴席' (yànxí) meaning 'banquet' and '主席' (zhǔxí) meaning 'chairman' or 'chairperson'. These phrases highlight the use of 席 in formal and communal contexts.
席 (xí) can mean a seat or a banquet in Chinese. It is also used to refer to a place in a democratic assembly and serves as a classifier for banquets and conversations. Additionally, it is a surname, Xi.
You can use 席 (xí) to refer to a seat by saying '请坐在席上' which means 'Please sit on the seat.' If referring to a banquet, you might say '我们在席上享用美食' meaning 'We enjoyed delicious food at the banquet.'
Common phrases include '宴席' (yànxí - banquet) and '会议席' (huìyìxí - conference seat).
Yes, 席 can also represent a metaphorical seat in discussions or assemblies, highlighting its importance in decision-making contexts.
While it can be used informally, 席 is more commonly associated with formal settings like banquets and meetings.
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