椅

Also used for furniture made of wood.

Phono-semantic compound consisting of:

木 (mù) — “wood, tree,” indicating that it’s made of wood.

奇 (qí) — “strange, unusual,” providing sound and partially implying crafted or designed form.

Thus, 椅 literally means “a wooden structure”, and more specifically a wooden object designed for sitting.

The combination of wood + form (奇) implies a shaped wooden item, distinguishing it from raw lumber.

椅子 (의자) — chair, seat

靠椅 (의자) — armchair, back chair

搖椅 (요의) — rocking chair

躺椅 (탕의) — reclining chair

轉椅 (전의) — swivel chair

長椅 (장의) — bench

折椅 (절의) — folding chair

椅子 (chair) was initially a symbol of status and authority, used primarily by nobles and scholars.

Sitting on a chair rather than the floor marked the transition in posture culture in East Asia.

The word spread to Japan and Korea with imported furniture and writing traditions.