noun HSK 3
stool · bench
Meaning
凳 refers to a seat without a back or arms, typically a stool or simple bench. It's one of the basic words for seating furniture in Chinese, distinct from 椅子 (yǐzi, chair) which has a backrest.
Usage
In everyday speech, 凳 is often used in compound words like 凳子 (dèngzi) to refer to stools or simple benches. It's a neutral, common term used in both formal and informal contexts. Native speakers typically use measure words when counting them.
Examples
- 01请搬一把凳子过来坐。.Please bring over a stool to sit on.
- 02这个小板凳很结实。.This small wooden stool is very sturdy.
Measure words
- 把一把凳子
- 张一张凳子
Common collocations
- 板凳wooden bench
- 凳子stool
- 小凳small stool
- 坐凳to sit on a stool
Origin
The character 凳 combines the radical 几 (jī, table/bench) with 登 (dēng, to ascend), suggesting something you step up onto or sit upon.