zhàn HSK 5

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

他占了那个座位。
Tā zhàn le nà gè zuòwèi.
He occupied that seat.
学生占学校的一半。
Xuéshēng zhàn xuéxiào de yī bàn.
Students account for half of the school.
这本书占桌子很多地方。
Zhè běn shū zhàn zhuōzi hěn duō dìfang.
This book occupies a lot of space on the table.
他占了我的座位。
Tā zhàn le wǒ de zuòwèi.
He took my seat.
水占地球大部分。
Shuǐ zhàn dìqiú dà bùfen.
Water occupies most of Earth.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 占 as 'standing on' something to claim it—the character resembles a person (卜) on a surface (口), symbolizing occupation. Associate it with 'percentage' to remember its use in statistics.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and used in both spoken and written Chinese, especially in contexts like statistics, reports, or everyday descriptions. Common contexts include discussing market share, population percentages, or occupying physical space.

📖 Grammar Points

占 is often followed by a noun or phrase indicating what is occupied, such as a percentage or object. Common patterns include: '占 + [percentage/number] + 的 + [noun]' (e.g., 占50%的人口) or '占 + [place/thing]' (e.g., 占座位). It can also be used in passive constructions like 被占.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 占 can carry nuanced meanings in phrases like 占便宜 (to take advantage of someone), which implies opportunism and is often viewed negatively. It's also used in historical contexts related to territorial occupation.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 有 (yǒu, 'to have'), 占 emphasizes active occupation or constituting a specific part, often with a sense of proportion. Unlike 属于 (shǔyú, 'to belong to'), which indicates ownership or membership, 占 focuses on the act of taking up or making up a portion.

Master this word with quizzes, flashcards & more

Learn in CILI →

Related Words