Meaning
坐 is one of the most fundamental verbs in Mandarin, primarily meaning 'to sit'. It's also used to describe traveling by any form of transportation where you sit (bus, train, plane, car). This dual usage makes it essential for both describing posture and discussing travel plans.
Usage
坐 is used both for the physical act of sitting and for taking transportation. When referring to transportation, it's followed directly by the vehicle type (坐车, 坐飞机). Native speakers use it constantly in everyday contexts, from inviting someone to sit down (请坐) to discussing how they commute to work.
Examples
- 01请坐，喝点儿茶吧。, .Please sit down and have some tea.
- 02我每天坐地铁去上班。.I take the subway to work every day.
Common collocations
- 请坐please sit / please have a seat
- 坐车to take a bus/car
- 坐飞机to take a plane
- 坐火车to take a train
Antonyms
Origin
The character 坐 depicts two people (人) sitting on the ground (土), representing the action of sitting. This pictographic origin makes the character's meaning quite intuitive.