Meaning and Usage
The counter ～席 (～せき) is used to count seats, chairs, or places where people can sit. It is commonly used in contexts such as restaurants, theaters, conference rooms, and other venues where seating capacity is relevant.
Common Contexts
You will often see ～席 used when talking about the number of available seats, reserved seats, or seating capacity. For example, when making a reservation at a restaurant, you might specify how many seats you want to reserve using this counter.
Collocations and Patterns
- ～席あります: indicates the number of seats available.
- ～席予約する: to reserve a certain number of seats.
- ～席用意する: to prepare or arrange a number of seats.
Register and Politeness
This counter is neutral and commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversation as well as business settings.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse ～席 with other counters like ～人 (people) or ～個 (general objects). Remember that ～席 specifically counts seats, not people or objects. For example, you say 10席 to mean 10 seats, not 10 people.