lowest seat; seat of least honor
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
the lowest seat (in a seating arrangement by rank); the last position; seat of least honor
formalRefers to the seat of lowest status in traditional Chinese seating etiquette, opposite to the position of honor (上座). Often used in formal or literary contexts describing banquets, meetings, or ceremonial arrangements.
Zài在
chuán传
tǒng统
de的
yàn宴
xí席
shàng上
，
wǎn晚
bèi辈
tōng通
cháng常
zuò坐
zài在
mò末
zuò座
。
At traditional banquets, younger generations usually sit in the lowest seats.
Tā他
suī虽
rán然
dì地
wèi位
xiǎn显
hè赫
，
dàn但
zài在
zhè这
cì次
huì会
yì议
shàng上
què却
qiān谦
zuò坐
zài在
mò末
zuò座
。
Although he holds a prominent position, he humbly took the last seat at this meeting.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Mò末
zuò座
bìng并
bù不
dài代
biǎo表
bù不
shòu受
zūn尊
zhòng重
，
ér而
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
lǐ礼
yí仪
shàng上
de的
cì次
xù序
。
The lowest seat does not represent a lack of respect, but rather an order of etiquette.