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沙发 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
沙发shāfāsofa (loanword)HSK 3, nz, 12 strokes, rank #2580, Medium
沙发shāfā(Internet slang) the first reply or replier to a forum postHSK 3, nz, 12 strokes, rank #2580, Medium
shāfā(sha1fa1)sha fa T1
  1. 1sofa (loanword)
  2. 2(Internet slang) the first reply or replier to a forum post
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March 24, 2026

沙发(沙發)shāfā(sha1fa1)

沙发 (shāfā) refers to a sofa, which is a common piece of furniture found in living rooms and lounges. It is often used for seating multiple people and can vary in style and comfort. The term also has a modern usage in internet slang, referring to the first reply to a thread or post, akin to claiming the 'best seat' in a conversation.

Strokes12Frequency#2580DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the design and arrangement of furniture like 沙发 in homes is significant, often reflecting social status and hospitality. A well-furnished living room, including a comfortable sofa, is seen as a welcoming space for guests.

Memory tip

Imagine a big, soft sofa (沙发 sounds like 'sha fa') where you can relax. The character 沙 (shā) looks like a pile of sand, suggesting a cozy, comfortable place to sit, while 发 (fā) can remind you of 'fa' or 'to send out', like sending out a reply on the internet.

Meanings of 沙发

shāfā(sha1fa1)
1sofa (loanword)
2(Internet slang) the first reply or replier to a forum post
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 沙发

沙发Simplified
沙發Traditional
12Strokes
—Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#2580Frequency Rank
条Measure Word
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2

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Podcast: 沙发

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AI study notes for 沙发

Quick Contrast

沙发 (shāfā) vs 椅子 (yǐzi) — choose 沙发 for a larger, cushioned seating option, while 椅子 refers to a smaller, often single-person seat.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 沙发 is a noun and should be used in contexts related to furniture or internet slang. A common mistake is to confuse it with other seating terms like 椅子 (yǐzi, chair). In informal contexts, it can be used casually among friends when discussing furniture or online interactions.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 4 word, 沙发 connects with other vocabulary related to home and furniture. Students should focus on differentiating it from similar terms and practice using it in sentences about their living spaces or discussing online interactions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 沙发 with other furniture terms; for instance, saying '我有一个沙发子' (wǒ yǒu yī gè shāfāzi) instead of '我有一个沙发' (wǒ yǒu yī gè shāfā). Remember, 沙发 is already a noun and doesn’t need the diminutive suffix.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 沙发

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Component characters

沙Shāgranule
7 strokes氵
View full entry
发fāto send out
HSK 35 strokes又
View full entry

How to say sofa (loanword) in Chinese

“sofa (loanword)” in Chinese is沙发shāfā

沙发 (shāfā) refers to a sofa, which is a common piece of furniture found in living rooms and lounges. It is often used for seating multiple people and can vary in style and comfort. The term also has a modern usage in internet slang, referring to the first reply to a thread or post, akin to claiming the 'best seat' in a conversation.

When to use 沙发

Be mindful that 沙发 is a noun and should be used in contexts related to furniture or internet slang. A common mistake is to confuse it with other seating terms like 椅子 (yǐzi, chair). In informal contexts, it can be used casually among friends when discussing furniture or online interactions.

沙发 or something close to it

沙发 (shāfā) vs 椅子 (yǐzi) — choose 沙发 for a larger, cushioned seating option, while 椅子 refers to a smaller, often single-person seat.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 沙发 with other furniture terms; for instance, saying '我有一个沙发子' (wǒ yǒu yī gè shāfāzi) instead of '我有一个沙发' (wǒ yǒu yī gè shāfā). Remember, 沙发 is already a noun and doesn’t need the diminutive suffix.

Write 沙发

沙
发

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Grammar patterns of 沙发

沙发 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 2 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.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这个____很舒服。

This sofa is very comfortable.

Example sentences for 沙发 (10)

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1
雷切尔从沙发上猛地往前一欠身子。——“你的意思是你已经抓到了皮特?”

léi qiē ěr cóng shāfā shàng měng dì wǎngqián yī qiàn shēnzi。——“ nǐ de yìsi shì nǐ yǐjīng zhuā dào le pí tè?”

Rachel started forward on the sofa. — "You mean you've arrested Pete?"
2
埃莉诺回来的时候,我还闷闷不乐地坐在长沙发上。

āi lì nuò huílái de shíhou, wǒ hái mēn mēn bù lè dì zuò zài cháng shāfā shàng。

When Eleanor returned, I was still sitting glumly on the settee.
3
他们惬意地躺在沙发上,胳膊搭在后面。

tāmen qièyì dì tǎng zài shāfā shàng, gēbo dā zài hòumiàn。

They sprawl at ease across the sofa, arms draped over the back.
4
丹尼尔倚在沙发上,嘴里还在嚼着苹果。

dān ní ěr yǐ zài shāfā shàng, zuǐ lǐ hái zài jiáo zhe píngguǒ。

Daniel leaned back on the sofa, still chewing on his apple.
5
那只小猫在沙发垫子上蜷缩成了一团。

nà zhī xiǎomāo zài shāfā diànzi shàng quán suō chéng le yī tuán。

The kitten was curled on a cushion on the sofa.
6
我只想在沙发上睡会儿。

wǒ zhī xiǎng zài shāfā shàng shuì huì ér。

I just want to crash out on the sofa.
7
休斯示意他在沙发上坐下。

Xiū Sī shìyì tā zài shāfā shàng zuòxia。

Hughes beckoned him to sit down on the sofa.
8
我们就坐在客厅的沙发上看电视。

wǒmen jiù zuò zài kètīng de shāfā shàng kàn diànshì。

We were sitting on the couch in the living room watching TV.
9
他坐在用隔板隔开的办公室里的双人沙发上。

tā zuò zài yòng gé bǎn gékāi de bàngōngshì lǐ de shuāng rén shāfā shàng。

He sat on the two-seater sofa in the partitioned office.
10
罗伊小心地把腿挪下沙发,坐了起来。

luō yī xiǎoxīn dì bǎ tuǐ nuó xià shāfā, zuò le qǐlái。

Roy swung his legs carefully off the couch and sat up.

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Cultural Notes for 沙发

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of a sofa is similar, but the slang usage of 'claiming the first reply' may not be as prevalent or recognized.

Frequently asked questions about 沙发

It is pronounced as shāfā, with both syllables having a high and level tone.

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