轎 (jiào) - Sedan chair & palanquin

轎Tone 4

jiào ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

健傑

轎 · jiào

Sedan chair;

palanquin;

a type of enclosed vehicle carried by people, historically used for transporting important persons.

Sedan chairpalanquina type of enclosed vehicle carried by people,

Usage highlights

Sedan chairBridal sedan chairSedan chair bearerSedan chair poleSedan chair curtainOfficial sedan chair

Synonyms

  • 轿子— sedan chair (general term)
  • 肩舆— shoulder carriage (formal term)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bride was carried in a red sedan chair (花轿).
  • In ancient times, officials traveled by sedan chair (坐轿子).
  • The mountain path was too narrow for sedan chairs (轿子无法通过).
  • Modern weddings sometimes incorporate sedan chairs for tradition (传统轿子).

Collocations

  • Sedan chair(轿子)
  • Bridal sedan chair(花轿)
  • Sedan chair bearer(轿夫)
  • Sedan chair pole(轿杠)
  • Sedan chair curtain(轿帘)
  • Official sedan chair(官轿)

Idioms

  • Eight bearers carrying a sedan chair(八抬大轿)
  • Sedan chair entering the village(轿进村)
  • Carrying a sedan chair and blowing trumpets(抬轿吹喇叭)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Sedan chairs were a primary mode of transport for nobility and officials in imperial China.
  • Red bridal sedan chairs remain an important symbol in traditional Chinese weddings.
  • The number of bearers (2, 4, or 8) indicated the passenger's social status.
  • Sedan chairs were gradually replaced by rickshaws and automobiles in the early 20th century.

FAQ