How to Say ‘It can seat twelve people’ in Simplified Chinese
能坐十二位
néng zuò shí èr wèi
[nung dzwo shí'èr wèi]
💬 Usage Tip: 位 (wèi) is the polite counting word for people, so you'll hear 十二位 from staff instead of 十二个人. You'll also hear 几位？ "how many people?" when you walk in.
Phrase Breakdown
能坐
néng zuò
can seat
能 (can) + 坐 (sit). The tones are a rising 2nd, then a falling 4th: 'néng zuò'.
这辆车能坐五个人。
This car can seat five people.
Words in this phrase
能
néng
[nung]
can; be able to
Expresses ability or possibility to do something.
能帮到你，我也很开心。
If I can help you, I’m also very happy.
坐
zuò
[dzwo]
sit
A verb meaning 'to sit' or 'take a seat.'
请坐这里。
Please sit here.
十二位
shí èr wèi
twelve people (polite)
十二 (twelve) + 位 (polite measure word for people). Say 'shí èr wèi'.
我们一共十二位。
There are twelve of us in total.
Words in this phrase
十二
shí èr
[shí'èr]
twelve
The number 12, formed as ten plus two.
一年有十二个月。
A year has twelve months.
位
wèi
[wèi]
(polite measure word for people)
A respectful classifier for counting people, common in restaurants.
请问几位？
How many people, please?
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