桌 zhuō

A tall wooden stand or platform for holding things. A table or desk; also a classifier for a tableful of dishes or guests. Wood (木) beneath the tall component 卓 forms a raised wooden table.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 桌子 (zhuōzi) — table
  • 书桌 (shūzhuō) — desk
  • 饭桌 (fànzhuō) — dining table
  • 桌前 (zhuō qián) — in front of the table
  • 桌 桌子

    桌 is a bound morpheme; it needs a suffix like 子 to stand alone as a noun.

  • 一张桌 一张桌子

    Measure words like 张 require the full noun 桌子, not the bare 桌.

Why can't I just say '桌' instead of '桌子'?

桌 is a bound root; it must combine with 子 to form a standalone noun.

In modern Mandarin, many nouns are disyllabic. 桌 by itself is not used as a free word; it appears in compounds like 书桌 or with the suffix 子 to become 桌子. Using bare 桌 sounds incomplete.
DimensionNaturalAvoid
Standalone noun桌子桌
With measure word一张桌子一张桌
In compounds书桌, 饭桌书桌子 (incorrect)

What's the difference between 桌 and 椅?

桌 is a table; 椅 is a chair. They are different pieces of furniture.

桌 refers to a table with a flat top and legs, while 椅 refers to a chair with a backrest. Both are common HSK 1 words and often appear together in phrases like 桌椅 (tables and chairs).
Dimension桌椅
Meaningtablechair
Typical use书桌, 饭桌椅子, 桌椅
Shapeflat top, legsseat with backrest

Appears in Stories 7 stories

《饥饿的深意》 The Hidden Meaning of Hunger
HSK 7 ~11 min read 1243 chars
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Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.

  • 整桌的 龙虾、和牛,他一点儿没有碰,全程只动了三次筷子:一筷子鱼,一根青菜,半碗汤。

  • 可他一开口, 整桌 人都停下来听。

  • 烤和牛 上桌 的时候别人都在夹。

  • 我问他您刚才 饭桌 上怎么不吃东西。

  • 今晚那 桌 饭三万二,每一口菜都是别人的试探。

  • 那 桌 全是鲍、参、翅、肚,一多半儿见都没见过。

  • 从那以后他才学会了, 饭桌 上吃得越少,别人越拿不准你,越拿不准就越不敢动你。

  • 肚子里那一 桌 三万多的饭菜还没消化,沉甸甸的。

《吃的东西和喝的东西》 Buying Food and Drinks
HSK 1 ~4 min read 305 chars
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This is a short dialogue about a shopping trip. A woman buys many things, including food, drinks, furniture, and pet food, while her boyfriend reminds her not to overspend.

  • 你喜欢的那个 桌子 和椅子,我也买了。”

  • 我的男友:“我喜欢的 桌椅 ?

  • 哪个 桌椅 ?”

  • 我:“上个星期天,你说你喜欢他们的那个 桌子 和那个电脑椅。

  • 我的男友说:“那个 桌子 和椅子有点儿太贵了。

  • 那些 桌子 、椅子什么的,这个星期都便宜了,都不贵。”

《七号桌的客人》 The Guest at Table Seven
HSK 1 ~5 min read 396 chars
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This heartwarming story reveals the quiet devotion of a father. As you read, notice the repeated actions and how a simple cup of tea becomes meaningful.

  • 老先生天天都坐在七号 桌子 前。

  • 一天晚上,大中去七号 桌子 前。

  • 他天天晚上九点下班,我坐在七号 桌子 前看他。

  • 七号 桌 天天是您的。

  • 老先生坐在七号 桌子 前,喝了第一口热茶。

《三号病房的苹果》 The Apple in Ward Three
HSK 1 ~3 min read 191 chars
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Enjoy this simple story about a patient and a mysterious apple. It shows how a small act of kindness can make someone feel at home, and you'll learn key words for feelings and daily life.

  • 天天下午, 桌子上 都会多出一个很大的苹果。

  • 桌子上 有老先生写的字:“我的朋友,你天天都好!”

《你也在想我吗》 Do You Miss Me Too?
HSK 1 ~2 min read 128 chars
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This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.

  • 我坐在 桌 前,在喝一杯茶,一杯热热的茶。

《我们一家》 A Family Dinner at the Restaurant
HSK 2 ~6 min read 401 chars
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In this warm dialogue, a parent introduces their family at a restaurant. A teacher gently corrects common mistakes about family words and names, making it perfect for HSK 2 learners.

  • 那是我的爱人,那张 桌子 ,右边那个。

《热面条》 Hot Noodles on a Cold Night
HSK 1 ~5 min read 399 chars
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Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.

  • 大中到饭店前,看见老先生一个人坐在 桌子 前,在看外边。

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