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.
Core Meaning
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.
Character Breakdown
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.”
Cultural Context and Significance
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.
Practical Usage in Modern China
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.”
Transportation (Crucial Use): This is the most important extended meaning for learners. You use 坐 for any vehicle you sit in.
坐飞机 (zuò fēijī): To take a plane
坐火车 (zuò huǒchē): To take a train
坐地铁 (zuò dìtiě): To take the subway
坐公共汽车 (zuò gōnggòng qìchē): To take a public bus
坐出租车 (zuò chūzūchē): To take a taxi
Figurative/Extended Meanings:
坐牢 (zuò láo): “Sit jail,” meaning to be imprisoned.
坐立不安 (zuò lì bù'ān): An idiom meaning “restless” or “on pins and needles,” literally “sit stand not at peace.”
Example Sentences
Example 1:
别客气，请坐。
Pinyin: Bié kèqi, qǐng zuò.
English: Don't be so formal, please sit.
Analysis: This is a classic, polite phrase used when welcoming guests into your home or office. 别客气 (bié kèqi) means “don't be a stranger” or “make yourself at home.”
Example 2:
老师进来了，同学们都坐得很好。
Pinyin: Lǎoshī jìnlái le, tóngxuémen dōu zuò de hěn hǎo.
English: The teacher came in, and all the students were sitting nicely.
Analysis: This shows how 坐 can be described with a degree complement (`得 de`), indicating how someone is sitting.
Example 3:
我明天坐飞机去北京。
Pinyin: Wǒ míngtiān zuò fēijī qù Běijīng.
English: I am taking a plane to Beijing tomorrow.
Analysis: A perfect example of 坐 used for transportation. The literal translation “I sit plane to go to Beijing” helps understand the Chinese grammar structure.
Example 4:
你喜欢坐火车还是坐高铁？
Pinyin: Nǐ xǐhuān zuò huǒchē háishì zuò gāotiě?
English: Do you prefer to take the train or the high-speed rail?
Analysis: This sentence uses an `A 还是 (háishì) B` structure to ask a choice question, a very common pattern.
Example 5:
这里没人，你可以坐。
Pinyin: Zhèlǐ méi rén, nǐ kěyǐ zuò.
English: There's no one here, you can sit.
Analysis: A simple, practical sentence you might use on a bus or in a waiting room.
Example 6:
他因为偷东西坐了三年牢。
Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi tōu dōngxi zuòle sān nián láo.
English: He was in prison for three years for stealing.
Analysis: This demonstrates the figurative use of 坐牢 (zuò láo) for “being imprisoned.”
English: My friend is doing her month of postpartum confinement, so we can't go disturb her.
Analysis: This sentence provides context for the important cultural practice of 坐月子 (zuò yuèzi).
Example 9:
等了半天，他坐立不安。
Pinyin: Děngle bàntiān, tā zuò lì bù'ān.
English: After waiting for a long time, he became restless.
Analysis: An example of the common four-character idiom (chengyu) 坐立不安 (zuò lì bù'ān), showing 坐 as part of a fixed phrase.
Example 10:
太晚了，我们坐出租车回家吧。
Pinyin: Tài wǎn le, wǒmen zuò chūzūchē huí jiā ba.
English: It's too late, let's take a taxi home.
Analysis: A common suggestion using the 吧 (ba) particle. This is a very natural, conversational sentence.
Example 11:
对不起，这个座位有人坐了。
Pinyin: Duìbùqǐ, zhège zuòwèi yǒurén zuò le.
English: Sorry, this seat is taken.
Analysis: This sentence cleverly uses both the noun 座位 (zuòwèi), “seat,” and the verb 坐 (zuò), “to sit.” Literally, “This seat has a person sitting (in it).”
Nuances and Common Mistakes
The Biggest Pitfall: 坐 (zuò) vs. 骑 (qí)
English speakers use “ride” for many vehicles (ride a bike, ride a bus). In Chinese, the verb depends on how your body is positioned. This is a critical distinction.
坐 (zuò): Use for vehicles you sit IN. Think cars, trains, planes, boats, buses, taxis. Your legs are in front of you.
骑 (qí): Use for vehicles you STRADDLE. Think bicycles, motorcycles, horses, scooters. You have one leg on each side.
Incorrect: `我骑出租车去机场。` (Wǒ qí chūzūchē qù jīchǎng.) → This means you are riding the taxi like a horse, probably on the roof!
Correct: `我坐出租车去机场。` (Wǒ zuò chūzūchē qù jīchǎng.) → I'm taking a taxi to the airport.
Correct: `我骑自行车上班。` (Wǒ qí zìxíngchē shàngbān.) → I ride a bike to work.
False Friend: “Take” vs. 坐 (zuò)
The English verb “to take” is very versatile for transport (“I'll take the train”). Do not try to find a direct translation for “take” in this context. The Chinese way is to use the verb that describes your physical action during travel, which is most often 坐.
Formal vs. Informal: 坐 (zuò) vs. 乘 (chéng)
坐 is the universal, everyday word for taking transport.
乘 (chéng) also means “to ride/take,” but it is much more formal. You will see it on signs, in announcements, or in written documents (e.g., `乘坐飞机 - chéngzuò fēijī`), but in spoken conversation, 坐 is far more common.
Related Terms and Concepts
骑 (qí) - To ride (astride); the direct counterpart to 坐 for vehicles like bikes and horses.