zhuōzi: 桌子 - Table, Desk

• Keywords: zhuōzi, 桌子, what does zhuozi mean, table in Chinese, desk in Chinese, Chinese word for table, Mandarin for table, how to say table in Chinese, measure word for table, Chinese furniture words, HSK 1 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 桌子 (zhuōzi), meaning “table” or “desk.” This guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural significance of tables in China, and provides 10 practical example sentences. Discover the correct measure word, common mistakes to avoid, and how 桌子 (zhuōzi) is used in everyday conversation, from the dining room to the office.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhuōzi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: A piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, used as a surface for working, eating, or placing things on.
• In a Nutshell: 桌子 (zhuōzi) is the general, everyday word for any kind of table or desk in Mandarin Chinese. It's one of the first physical objects learners encounter. The second character, 子 (zi), is a common noun suffix that doesn't change the meaning but makes the word sound more natural in spoken Chinese.

• 桌 (zhuō): This character gives the core meaning. The bottom part is 木 (mù), which means “wood,” indicating the common material for this piece of furniture. The top part, 卓 (zhuó), originally meant “high” or “eminent” and here acts primarily as a phonetic component to give the character its sound. You can think of it as “an eminent object made of wood.”
• 子 (zi): This is a neutral-tone noun suffix. It's attached to many single-syllable nouns in Mandarin to make them two syllables, which is a common rhythm in the spoken language. It doesn't add meaning here; it just turns “桌 (zhuō)” into the common object, “桌子 (zhuōzi)“.

These two characters combine to form the standard, colloquial word for a table or desk.

While a 桌子 (zhuōzi) is a universal object, its role in Chinese culture, particularly the dining table (餐桌, cānzhuō), is deeply significant. In traditional Chinese culture, the dining table is the center of family life. Meals are a time for connection, sharing, and reinforcing family bonds. Unlike the Western emphasis on individual plates, Chinese meals often feature shared dishes placed in the center of the table, from which everyone partakes. This communal dining style promotes a sense of togetherness and harmony. The shape of the table can also be symbolic. A round table (圆桌, yuánzhuō), common in restaurants and for celebratory family meals, symbolizes unity, completeness, and equality, as everyone is seated an equal distance from the center and each other. At formal banquets, seating arrangements around the 桌子 (zhuōzi) are meticulously planned to reflect social hierarchy and respect. The guest of honor is seated in the position of highest importance, typically facing the entrance. Understanding this “table etiquette” is crucial in Chinese social and business contexts.

桌子 (zhuōzi) is a very common and versatile word used in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal writing. Its connotation is neutral. You can make the term more specific by adding a word before it to describe its function.

• Dining Table: 餐桌 (cānzhuō) - Literally “meal table.”
• Desk/Writing Desk: 书桌 (shūzhuō) - Literally “book table.”
• Computer Desk: 电脑桌 (diànnǎo zhuō) - Literally “computer table.”
• Coffee Table: 茶几 (chájī) - Literally “tea table.” While you could say 咖啡桌 (kāfēi zhuō), 茶几 (chájī) is the much more common term.

• Example 1:
  • 我的书都在桌子上。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shū dōu zài zhuōzi shàng.
  • English: My books are all on the table.
  • Analysis: A simple, essential sentence pattern. `在 (zài) … 上 (shàng)` means “on top of…” This demonstrates how to describe the location of an object relative to the table.
• Example 2:
  • 我们需要买一张新桌子。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào mǎi yì zhāng xīn zhuōzi.
  • English: We need to buy a new table.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces the correct measure word for tables: 张 (zhāng). Measure words are crucial in Chinese grammar and 张 (zhāng) is used for flat objects like tables, paper, and beds.
• Example 3:
  • 请把你的杯子从桌子上拿开。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ nǐ de bēizi cóng zhuōzi shàng ná kāi.
  • English: Please take your cup off the table.
  • Analysis: This uses the `把 (bǎ)` construction, a common way to structure sentences about doing something to an object. It highlights an action performed on something related to the table.
• Example 4:
  • 这张桌子是木头做的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhuōzi shì mùtou zuò de.
  • English: This table is made of wood.
  • Analysis: `是 (shì) … 的 (de)` is a common pattern to emphasize details about a noun, in this case, the material the table is made from.
• Example 5:
  • 晚饭已经放在桌子上了，快来吃吧！
  • Pinyin: Wǎnfàn yǐjīng fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le, kuài lái chī ba!
  • English: Dinner is already on the table, come and eat!
  • Analysis: A very common and practical phrase you would hear in a Chinese home. `放 (fàng)` means “to put” or “to place.”
• Example 6:
  • 办公室里有五张桌子和五把椅子。
  • Pinyin: Bàngōngshì lǐ yǒu wǔ zhāng zhuōzi hé wǔ bǎ yǐzi.
  • English: There are five desks and five chairs in the office.
  • Analysis: This sentence pairs 桌子 with its natural partner, 椅子 (yǐzi), and shows how to count them using their respective measure words, 张 (zhāng) and 把 (bǎ).
• Example 7:
  • 猫喜欢跳到桌子下面睡觉。
  • Pinyin: Māo xǐhuān tiào dào zhuōzi xiàmiàn shuìjiào.
  • English: The cat likes to jump under the table to sleep.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of a different position word, 下面 (xiàmiàn), meaning “underneath” or “below.”
• Example 8:
  • 你能帮我把这张桌子搬到客厅吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ bǎ zhè zhāng zhuōzi bān dào kètīng ma?
  • English: Can you help me move this table to the living room?
  • Analysis: `搬 (bān)` is the specific verb for moving heavy objects like furniture. This is a very useful, real-world request.
• Example 9:
  • 服务员，请擦一下这张桌子。
  • Pinyin: Fúwùyuán, qǐng cā yíxià zhè zhāng zhuōzi.
  • English: Waiter, please wipe this table.
  • Analysis: A practical sentence for use in a restaurant. `擦 (cā)` means “to wipe” and `一下 (yíxià)` softens the command, making it more like a polite request.
• Example 10:
  • 这张桌子太小了，坐不下十个人。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhāng zhuōzi tài xiǎo le, zuò bu xià shí ge rén.
  • English: This table is too small, it can't seat ten people.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses a resultative complement `坐不下 (zuò bu xià)` to indicate that the action of “sitting” cannot be accomplished due to the table's size.

• The Measure Word is `张 (zhāng)`, not `个 (ge)`: This is the most common mistake for beginners. Because 个 (ge) is the general-purpose measure word, learners often default to it. However, for flat objects like tables, you must use 张 (zhāng).
  • Incorrect: `一个桌子 (yí ge zhuōzi)`
  • Correct: `一张桌子 (yì zhāng zhuōzi)`
• `桌子 (zhuōzi)` vs. `桌 (zhuō)`: In everyday spoken language, you will almost always hear and use the two-syllable word 桌子 (zhuōzi). The single-syllable 桌 (zhuō) is more formal or literary and is most often seen as part of a compound word.
  • Spoken: “There is a book on the table.” → 桌子上有一本书。 (zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.)
  • Compound Word: “Desk” → 书桌 (shūzhuō). You wouldn't say 书桌子 (shūzhuōzi).

• 椅子 (yǐzi) - Chair. The most common companion to a 桌子.
• 书桌 (shūzhuō) - Desk. A specific type of 桌子 used for studying or working.
• 餐桌 (cānzhuō) - Dining table. A specific type of 桌子 used for eating meals.
• 茶几 (chájī) - Coffee table. The low table typically found in a living room.
• 家具 (jiājù) - Furniture. The general category that 桌子 belongs to.
• 张 (zhāng) - The measure word for tables, beds, paper, and other flat-surfaced objects.
• 放 (fàng) - To put; to place. A common verb used to describe putting items on a 桌子.
• 上面 (shàngmiàn) - On; on top of. A location word used frequently with 桌子.
• 下面 (xiàmiàn) - Under; below. The opposite of 上面.
• 擦 (cā) - To wipe; to clean. The verb for cleaning the surface of a 桌子.