Onyomi: ザ · Kunyomi: すわ.る · Meanings: cushion, gathering, seat, sit, squat
Kanji for cushion, gathering, seat, sit, squat
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座 is built from 广, meaning a wide space or building, and 坐, which shows people sitting. In the past, an important building or hall was a place where people sat together for meetings or gatherings. The image of people sitting inside a large space came to represent a seat, a place to sit, or a position. From this idea, 座 developed meanings related to sitting, seats, and established positions.
座 shows people sitting together inside a large building, meaning a seat or place to sit.
Imagine entering a big hall (广) and seeing people already sitting down (坐). That shared sitting place is 座.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 座 | ざ | seat, place | common Noun |
| 座席 | ざせき | seat | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 座る | すわる | to sit (down), to have a seat, to be seated, to kneel (on the floor) | common JLPT-N5 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 座布団 | ざぶとん | zabuton, flat floor cushion used when sitting or kneeling; usu. rectangular | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 座禅 | ざぜん | zazen (seated Zen meditation, usu. in a cross-legged position) | common Noun |
| 座り込む | すわりこむ | to (enter and) sit down, to plop oneself down, to plant oneself down | Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 座右 | ざゆう | (by) one's side, place close to one's person, place within arm's reach | Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 座標 | ざひょう | coordinate, coordinates | JLPT-N1 Noun, Noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no' |
| 座敷 | ざしき | tatami room, tatami mat room, formal Japanese room | common JLPT-N2 Noun |
| 座談会 | ざだんかい | symposium, round-table discussion | common JLPT-N1 Noun |