noun HSK 2
stool · small seat without a backrest
Meaning
凳子 refers to a simple seat without a backrest or arms, typically a stool or bench. It's one of the most basic pieces of furniture for sitting. The word is distinguished from 椅子 (yǐ zi, chair), which has a backrest.
Usage
This is an everyday word used in homes, schools, and public spaces. Native speakers commonly use it to refer to any simple sitting surface without back support, from small wooden stools to plastic garden seats. The 子 suffix is a diminutive that softens the word.
Examples
- 01请给我搬一把凳子来。.Please bring me a stool.
- 02教室里有很多凳子和椅子。.There are many stools and chairs in the classroom.
Characters
Measure words
- 把一把凳子
- 张三张凳子
Common collocations
- 搬凳子to move a stool
- 坐在凳子上to sit on a stool
- 小凳子small stool
Origin
The character 凳 is a phonosemantic compound with 几 (furniture radical) suggesting the meaning category. The 子 suffix is commonly added to everyday object nouns in Mandarin.