位置

• Pinyin: wèi zhì
• Hanzi breakdown: 位 = 亻(person) + 立 (stand); 置 = 罒 (net, phonetic component) + 直 (straight)

Meaning

Position; location; place; seat.

Refers to the physical location or spatial position of something or someone. Also used figuratively to mean one's role or standing in a group or society. Very common in everyday and formal speech.

Examples

1. 你能告诉我图书馆的位置吗？ Can you tell me the location of the library?
2. 请坐到你的位置上，课要开始了。 Please sit in your seat — class is about to begin.
3. 他在公司里的位置越来越重要。 His position in the company is becoming increasingly important.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, navigation, workplace

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 请问洗手间在哪个位置？(Excuse me, where is the toilet located?)
• 把书放回原来的位置。(Put the book back in its original position.)

Don't Say

• 这个位置的人很有名。(Don't use 位置 alone to mean 'the person in this position' — be more specific, e.g. 担任这个职位的人.)

Origin & History

Compound of 位 (position, status) and 置 (to place, to put), together meaning 'a place where something is set.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal