zuò: 坐 - Sit, Travel by, Be seated

Keywords: 坐, zuo, sit in Chinese, how to say sit in Chinese, travel by in Chinese, take a plane in Chinese, ride a train in Chinese, 坐飞机, 坐火车, 坐下, Chinese character for sit, HSK 1 verb, Chinese transportation verbs.

Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 坐 (zuò), one of the first words you'll encounter. While its core meaning is “to sit,” this entry explores its crucial and frequent use for “to travel by” or “to take” various forms of transport like planes, trains, and cars. We'll break down the character, its cultural importance in showing hospitality, and how to use it correctly in everyday conversation to avoid common beginner mistakes.

Pinyin (with tone marks): zuò

Part of Speech: Verb

HSK Level: HSK 1

Concise Definition: To rest one's buttocks on a surface, such as a chair; to travel by a vehicle.

In a Nutshell: 坐 (zuò) is the fundamental Chinese verb for “to sit.” If you want to tell someone to sit down, you use 坐. However, its meaning extends far beyond the chair. In Chinese, you 坐 a plane, 坐 a train, or 坐 a car. Instead of focusing on the act of “taking” a vehicle like in English, Chinese focuses on the physical posture you maintain during the journey—you sit. Mastering this dual meaning is a key step in sounding natural.

The character 坐 is a beautiful example of a pictograph, showing a scene that directly represents its meaning.

人 (rén): The character for “person” appears twice, looking like two figures.

土 (tǔ): The character for “earth” or “ground.”

The image created is of two people (人) sitting on the ground (土). This simple, ancient picture perfectly captures the essence of the action: “to sit.”

In Chinese culture, the act of inviting someone to 坐 (zuò) is a primary gesture of hospitality and respect. One of the first things a host will say to a guest upon their arrival is 请坐 (qǐng zuò), “Please, have a seat.” This simple act establishes a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.

This contrasts slightly with Western culture where, while polite, offering a seat is one of many welcoming gestures. In China, it is often the very first and most fundamental sign of respect shown to a visitor.

The concept extends to formal settings. In traditional banquets or important business meetings, where you 坐 (your 座位, zuòwèi or “seat”) is determined by your status and relationship to the host. The guest of honor is always given the most prominent seat.

A powerful cultural example is the term 坐月子 (zuò yuèzi), literally “sit the month.” This refers to the traditional practice of postpartum confinement, where a new mother rests for a full month after childbirth to recover. This shows how 坐 can imply an extended period of rest and recuperation, not just a brief action.

Basic Action/Command: The most direct use is telling someone to sit, often with the complement 下 (xià) to indicate the downward motion: 坐下 (zuò xià) - “Sit down.”

Polite Invitation: In any social or formal setting, you will hear and use 请坐 (qǐng zuò) - “Please, have a seat.”

骑 (qí) - To ride (astride); the direct counterpart to 坐 for vehicles like bikes and horses.

站 (zhàn) - To stand; the physical antonym of 坐.

座位 (zuòwèi) - Seat, place; the noun for the place where you 坐.

下 (xià) - Down, under; used as a resultative complement in 坐下 (sit down).

请 (qǐng) - Please; essential for politeness, as in 请坐 (please sit).

乘 (chéng) - To ride, to take (transportation); a more formal synonym for 坐 in the context of travel.

飞机 (fēijī) - Airplane; a common vehicle you 坐.

火车 (huǒchē) - Train; another common vehicle you 坐.

坐月子 (zuò yuèzi) - A culturally significant practice of postpartum confinement, literally “sit the month.”