座る

• Reading: すわる
• Romaji: suwaru
• Kanji breakdown: 座 (za/suwa) — to sit, seat
• Pronunciation: /sɯ.ɰa.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To sit (down); to take a seat. An essential everyday verb for describing body position.

A Group 1 (godan) verb with an る stem. Conjugated as 座ります in polite form. Covers both sitting on chairs (Western style) and sitting on the floor in seiza or cross-legged position (Japanese style). The opposite of 立つ (to stand).

Examples

1. どうぞ、この椅子に座ってください。 Please, have a seat in this chair.
2. 公園のベンチに座って昼ごはんを食べた。 I sat on a park bench and ate lunch.
3. 電車で座ることができなかった。 I wasn't able to get a seat on the train.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, school, transportation

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 座 combines 广 (building) and 坐 (to sit), originally depicting people sitting inside a shelter. It is related to the word 座席 (zaseki, seat).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal