交椅

jiāoyǐ
noun #29,821

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 folding armchair (traditional Chinese style)
  2. 2 a position in a hierarchy
  3. 3 seat of power

Examples

Tā zhōngyú zuò shàng le gōngsī de dì yī bǎ jiāoyǐ.
He finally took the top seat at the company.
Gǔdài guānyuán zuò zài jiāoyǐ shang shěn àn.
Ancient officials would sit in folding armchairs to hear cases.

Tips

usage
第一交椅 (the first chair) is a common figurative expression meaning the top position or highest rank in an organization. It comes from the traditional status of the folding armchair as a seat of authority.

Stroke Order

jiāo