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March 24, 2026
椅子yǐzi(yi3zi5)
The word 椅子 (yǐzi) means 'chair' in Mandarin. It refers to a piece of furniture designed for sitting, typically featuring a back and four legs. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversation and formal contexts when discussing furniture or seating arrangements.
Frequency#2115DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of seating can reflect social hierarchy and respect; for example, the seating arrangement at a formal dinner often indicates status. The word 椅子 is used in contexts involving hospitality and guest treatment.
Memory Tip
Think of 椅子 (yǐzi) as a 'Y' shaped chair. The radical 木 (mù) means 'wood', indicating that chairs are often made of wood. The 'i' in 'yi' sounds like 'ee', reminding you of a person sitting comfortably in a chair, while 'zi' can be imagined as 'sitting' in this chair.
Meanings of 椅子
yǐzi(yi3zi5)
1chair
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About 椅子
椅子Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2115Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 椅子
Podcast: 椅子
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AI Study Notes for 椅子
Quick Contrast
凳子 (dèngzi) vs 椅子 (yǐzi): use 椅子 when emphasizing a chair with a back; use 凳子 for a backless stool.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 椅子 (yǐzi) as a 'Y' shaped chair. The radical 木 (mù) means 'wood', indicating that chairs are often made of wood. The 'i' in 'yi' sounds like 'ee', reminding you of a person sitting comfortably in a chair, while 'zi' can be imagined as 'sitting' in this chair.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 椅子 (yǐzi), as the third tone can easily be mispronounced. It's often used with classifiers such as 把 (bǎ) when counting chairs, e.g., 一把椅子 (yī bǎ yǐzi) for 'one chair'. In informal settings, it can simply be used to refer to any chair without additional context.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 椅子 (yǐzi) connects to other basic nouns related to home and furniture, such as 桌子 (zhuōzi, table) and 床 (chuáng, bed). Focus on the pronunciation and practice using it in simple sentences to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of seating can reflect social hierarchy and respect; for example, the seating arrangement at a formal dinner often indicates status. The word 椅子 is used in contexts involving hospitality and guest treatment.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 椅子 (yǐzi) with 凳子 (dèngzi), mistakenly using one for the other. For example, saying '我想坐在凳子' (wǒ xiǎng zuò zài dèngzi) when they mean 'I want to sit on a chair' is incorrect if they are referring to a chair specifically.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 椅子
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Grammar Patterns of 椅子
椅子 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
I staggered and had to clutch at a chair for support.
2
塑料面椅子的四角上有几道小裂缝。
sù liào miàn yǐ zǐ de sì jiǎo shàng yǒu jī dào xiǎo liè féng。
The plastic-covered seat has a few small splits around the corners.
3
她像个顽皮的孩子似的，坐在椅子上来回摇晃。
tā xiàng gè wán pí de hái zǐ sì de， ， zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng lái huí yáo。
She rocks back and forth on her chair like a mischievous child.
4
他们摆好会议的坐椅,每排十把椅子.
tā mén bǎi hǎo huì yì de zuò yǐ, , měi pái shí bǎ yǐ.
They set out the chairs for the meeting in rows of ten.
5
他倒在离他最近的那张椅子上.
tā dǎo zài lí tā zuì jìn de nà zhāng yǐ zǐ shàng.
He collapsed into the nearest chair.
6
他懊悔地坐在靠窗的椅子上。
tā ào huǐ dì zuò zài kào chuāng de yǐ zǐ shàng。
He sat penitently in his chair by the window.
7
鲍勃从椅子上滑下来，趴在了地板上。
bào bó cóng yǐ zǐ shàng huá xià lái， ， pā zài le dì bǎn。
Bob slid from his chair and lay prone on the floor.
8
他从椅子上起身向门口走去。
tā cóng yǐ zǐ shàng qǐ shēn xiàng mén kǒu zǒu qù。
He rose from his seat and made for the door.
9
我们用一张摆放得很巧妙的椅子将它隐藏了起来。
wǒ mén yòng yī zhāng bǎi fàng dé hěn qiǎo miào de yǐ zǐ jiāng tā yǐn cáng le qǐ lái。
We had kept its presence hidden with a strategically placed chair.
10
她从椅子上站起身，远远地看着他。
tā cóng yǐ zǐ shàng zhàn qǐ shēn， ， yuǎn yuǎn dì kàn zháo。
She rose from the chair and gazed across at him.
Cultural Notes for 椅子
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of seating can reflect social hierarchy and respect; for example, the seating arrangement at a formal dinner often indicates status. The word 椅子 is used in contexts involving hospitality and guest treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions about 椅子
You can say '一把椅子' (yī bǎ yǐzi) to mean 'one chair'. The 把 structure is used to indicate the object being handled.
Yes, 椅子 refers to a chair with a back, while 凳子 refers to a stool, which typically does not have a back.
In Mandarin, the plural is often indicated by context or by using a number and a classifier, so you would say '两把椅子' (liǎng bǎ yǐzi) for 'two chairs'.
