seat; place to sit
A physical seat or place to sit, such as a chair, cushion, or designated spot.
Please sit down. Please take this seat.
One's position, rank, or status in an organization, field, or society.
gathering; party; company; atmosphere
A social gathering or the atmosphere of such a gathering. Often used in phrases like 座が白ける (the mood falls flat) or 座が盛り上がる (the party livens up).
A stand, pedestal, or platform for displaying an object, such as a statue or vase.
trade guild
Historical term for a trade guild or association of merchants or artisans in pre-modern Japan.
constellation suffix
Suffix attached to the names of constellations, e.g., オリオン座 (Orion), おおぐま座 (Ursa Major).
The constellation Orion is often visible in the winter night sky.
theatre/cinema/troupe suffix
Suffix attached to the names of theatres, cinemas, and theatrical troupes, e.g., 劇団四季座.
counter for theatres, deities, etc.
Counter used for theatres, deities, Buddhist images, tall mountains, and satokagura songs. Rare and specialized.
See also: 里神楽
He assumed the position of team captain.
He established a solid position in the industry.
His joke killed the mood of the gathering.
The party livened up with fun stories.
Place the vase on a stand for display.
In the Edo period, various craftsmen organized trade guilds.
That movie is showing at the Tokyu-za cinema in Shibuya.
There are three Shinto shrines in this area.
She defended her title as champion.
He handed over the position of president to a younger employee.
Everyone started singing and the party livened up.
The meeting began once everyone had taken their seats.
席 is the everyday word for a seat at a table, meeting, or event, while 座 is more literary or abstract and appears mainly in set phrases.
地位 is the standard word for social or professional status, while 座 is more figurative and often implies a hard-won or symbolically important position.
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
The kanji 座 originally depicts a roof over a sitting area, representing a place to sit. The reading ざ is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi. The word has developed many extended meanings from the core idea of a seat or fixed place.
conversation; discussion; talk
chairman; chairperson; presiding officer · troupe leader; head of a theatrical company
toilet seat
pedestal; plinth; base
seiza; formal kneeling sitting
enshrinement; residing in a shrine · sitting prominently; plunked down; planted
running aground; being stranded; grounding
throne
opening act; curtain raiser · opening performer; warm-up act
sit; squat · be implicated; be involved (in a scandal)
zazen; seated Zen meditation
for the time being; for the present; for the moment · immediate; present; current · for some time (after) · checking account; current account
tatami room (polite) · geisha party; dinner with geisha entertainment
platform; stage; upper seat; pulpit
kabuki troupe; kabuki theater · Kabuki-za (theater in Tokyo)
seat of honor; head seat; top seat
suppository
leaving one's seat early; excusing oneself
vantage point; viewpoint; standpoint
gun emplacement; gun mount
sitting and lying down; daily postures · daily life; everyday activities