星座
xīngzuò
The English phrase "zodiac sign" is 星座 (xīngzuò) in Chinese.
星座 is a noun used to refer to a star sign. When you want to talk specifically about the twelve signs of the zodiac, you use the phrase 十二星座. To ask someone about their sign, you can use the question 你的星座是什么？ (Nǐ de xīngzuò shì shénme?).
Meaning: star sign (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term 星座 is composed of two parts: 星 (xīng), meaning 'star' and 座 (zuò), meaning 'seat' or 'constellation/cluster'.
How do you pronounce it?
xīngzuò
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese social media and dating apps, asking for someone's 星座 is often seen as a way to judge 'compatibility' before a first date.
- While 星座 refers to Western zodiac signs, Chinese people often identify with the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac, which is called 生肖 (shēngxiào).
- The character 座 (zuò) in 星座 literally means 'seat', suggesting that stars are 'seated' in their specific positions in the sky.
Examples in context
- 请问你的生肖是什么？May I ask what your zodiac sign is?
- 你屬咩嘢？What's your zodiac sign?
- 你的星座是什么？Nǐ de xīngzuò shì shénme?What is your zodiac sign?
- 我不知道我的星座。Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ de xīngzuò.I don't know my zodiac sign.
- 狮子座是一个很棒的星座。Shīzǐzuò shì yīgè hěn bàng de xīngzuò.Leo is a great zodiac sign.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about astrology at a cafe.
- 佳怡 Jiayi你喜欢看星座运势吗？Nǐ xǐhuān kàn xīngzuò yùnshì ma?Do you like reading zodiac sign horoscopes?
- 伟 Wei挺喜欢的，很有趣。Tǐng xǐhuān de, hěn yǒuqù.I quite like it, it's very interesting.
- 佳怡 Jiayi那你的星座是什么？Nà nǐ de xīngzuò shì shénme?Then what is your zodiac sign?
- 伟 Wei我是天蝎座。Wǒ shì Tiānxiēzuò.I am a Scorpio.
