位子

• Pinyin: wèi zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 位 = 人 + 立 (person standing in a designated position); 子 (noun suffix)

Meaning

Seat; place; spot. A physical seat in a venue, or figuratively a position or slot someone occupies in an organization or social hierarchy.

Used both literally (a seat in a theater, restaurant, or classroom) and figuratively (a position of power or influence). Slightly more colloquial than 座位, and more concrete or idiomatic than 职位 in figurative use.

Examples

1. 会场里的位子已经坐满了。 All the seats in the venue are taken.
2. 你先去占个位子，我去买饮料。 Go save us a seat—I’ll go buy drinks.
3. 这个领导位子轮不到他来坐。 That leadership position isn’t his to take.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, conversation, workplace

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 餐厅里的位子已经全部预订完了，建议改天再来。(All the seats in the restaurant have been reserved — it is recommended to come another day.)
• 他在公司的位子越来越稳固，深得上级信任。(His position in the company has become increasingly secure, earning the trust of his superiors.)

Don't Say

• 请坐到你的位子上认真学习 — in formal educational or official settings, 座位 is the more standard term; 位子 is natural in everyday, colloquial speech

Origin & History

位 (position, seat) + 子 (noun suffix)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal