席

• Reading: せき
• Romaji: seki
• Kanji breakdown: 席 (seki) — seat, place
• Pronunciation: /se.ki/

Meaning

Seat; one's place. A designated spot for sitting.

Used broadly: 席を取る (to save a seat), 席を外す (to step away from one's seat/desk), 席に着く (to take one's seat). In restaurants, 席 refers to a table/spot. Also used as a counter for seats.

Examples

1. この席は空いていますか。 Is this seat taken?
2. 彼は席を外しています。 He's away from his desk right now.
3. 映画館で前の席に座った。 I sat in the front row at the movie theater.

Usage Guide

Context: restaurants, classrooms, transportation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Originally referred to a mat or cushion for sitting. The kanji 席 contains 巾 (cloth), reflecting this origin.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal