桌子
table; desk
zhuōzi
What does 桌子 mean?
桌子 (zhuōzi) is the everyday word for 'table' or 'desk' — any piece of furniture with a flat surface and legs. Chinese does not distinguish between a dining table and a work desk the way English does; context tells you which: 在桌子上吃饭 'eating at the table,' 在桌子上写字 'writing at the desk.' To be specific, you can say 书桌 (shūzhuō) for 'desk (for studying),' 餐桌 (cānzhuō) for 'dining table,' or 饭桌 (fànzhuō) for the same.
The 子 at the end is a noun suffix with a neutral tone — it carries no meaning of 'son/small,' it just makes 桌 into a standalone everyday noun. The measure word is 张 (zhāng), used for flat objects: 一张桌子 'one table.'
Character breakdown
table; desk
noun suffix (here neutral tone, no separate meaning)
Memory hook: 桌 has 木 'wood' at the bottom — tables were made of wood. The 子 just makes it sound like a regular noun.
Measure word for 桌子
Example sentences
这是一张桌子。
Zhè shì yì zhāng zhuōzi.
This is a table.
neutral
桌子上有一本书。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.
There's a book on the table.
neutral
我的电脑在桌子上。
Wǒ de diànnǎo zài zhuōzi shàng.
My computer is on the desk.
spoken
猫在桌子下面。
Māo zài zhuōzi xiàmiàn.
The cat is under the table.
spoken
Common phrases with 桌子
Synonyms
Specifically 'desk' (for reading/writing), often in a bedroom or study. 桌子 is the umbrella word — use 书桌 only when you need to be specific about it being a study desk.
Specifically 'dining table.' Use when context isn't clear from the situation. In conversation, 桌子 usually suffices.
Don't confuse 桌子 with
FAQ
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