Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
坐zuò(Zuo4)
The character 坐 (zuò) primarily means 'to sit' or 'to take a seat.' It is commonly used in contexts involving seating arrangements, transportation, and even figurative expressions of stability or rest. The word can also imply the act of taking a mode of transport, such as a bus or airplane.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#261DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, offering a seat to guests is a sign of respect and hospitality. The act of sitting down together often signifies the beginning of important discussions or sharing of meals.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person sitting down, forming the base of their body as the flat surface of the character 坐. The left side resembles a person with their legs crossed, indicating a relaxed posture, while the right side represents a seat beneath them. Think of 'zuò' sounding like 'zoo,' where animals sit around.
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 坐
Quick Contrast
站 (zhàn) - use 坐 (zuò) when referring to sitting, while 站 (zhàn) specifically means to stand.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 坐 with 座 (zuò), which refers to a seat or a base. 坐 is more about the action of sitting, while 座 emphasizes the concept of a seat. Remember to use 坐 in informal settings, like asking someone to sit down, and be cautious with tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 坐 connects to basic verbs and actions. Students should focus on using it in simple sentences, such as '我坐在这里' (I sit here), and practice its pronunciation. Understanding 坐 will help with learning related verbs and phrases in the future.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 坐 with the pronunciation of 座, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我座在这里' instead of '我坐在这里' (I sit here) is a common mistake.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 坐
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 坐 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Pictograph of two people (人) sitting on the ground (土).
1The giveawayTwo people 从 sitting on the ground 土
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 坐? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 坐?
Decomposition of 坐
IDS Structure⿻从土
坐Full Character
=
从Cong2
outer
土Tu3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 坐?
How to say to sit in Chinese
“to sit” in Chinese is坐zuò
The character 坐 (zuò) primarily means 'to sit' or 'to take a seat.' It is commonly used in contexts involving seating arrangements, transportation, and even figurative expressions of stability or rest. The word can also imply the act of taking a mode of transport, such as a bus or airplane.
When to use 坐
Learners often confuse 坐 with 座 (zuò), which refers to a seat or a base. 坐 is more about the action of sitting, while 座 emphasizes the concept of a seat. Remember to use 坐 in informal settings, like asking someone to sit down, and be cautious with tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
坐 or something close to it
站 (zhàn) - use 坐 (zuò) when referring to sitting, while 站 (zhàn) specifically means to stand.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 坐 with the pronunciation of 座, leading to incorrect usage. For example, saying '我座在这里' instead of '我坐在这里' (I sit here) is a common mistake.
Write 坐
坐
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 坐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 坐
坐 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 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.
