Furniture in Chinese: Essential Vocabulary, Pronunciation, and Examples

Key takeaways

• Chinese furniture vocabulary is organized by room, which mirrors how native speakers actually think and shop.
• Measure words like 张 (zhāng) and 把 (bǎ) are required when counting furniture items in Mandarin.
• Traditional Chinese furniture includes items like the kang bed (炕, kàng) that have no direct Western equivalent.
• Tones matter: 椅子 (yǐzi, chair) and similar two-syllable words each carry distinct tones that change meaning if mispronounced.
• Shopping phrases for furniture stores differ from general shopping Chinese because they involve size, material, and delivery logistics.

Living room furniture

The living room (客厅, kètīng) is usually the first space visitors see, and it holds some of the most-used vocabulary.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
沙发	shāfā	sofa / couch
茶几	chájī	coffee table
电视柜	diànshì guì	TV cabinet / TV stand
书架	shūjià	bookshelf
椅子	yǐzi	chair
扶手椅	fúshǒu yǐ	armchair
地毯	dìtǎn	rug / carpet
窗帘	chuānglián	curtains
台灯	táidēng	table lamp
落地灯	luòdì dēng	floor lamp
壁画	bìhuà	wall painting / mural
镜子	jìngzi	mirror
茶桌	chá zhuō	tea table
置物架	zhìwù jià	display shelf / shelving unit

A note on the tea table: many Chinese living rooms have a dedicated 茶桌 (chá zhuō, tea table) as a centerpiece for serving guests, which is separate from a standard 茶几 (chájī, coffee table).

Bedroom furniture

The bedroom (卧室, wòshì) vocabulary covers beds, storage, and lighting items you will encounter in any Chinese home or furniture store.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
床	chuáng	bed
双人床	shuāngrén chuáng	double bed
单人床	dānrén chuáng	single bed
床头柜	chuángtóu guì	bedside table / nightstand
衣柜	yīguì	wardrobe / closet
梳妆台	shūzhuāng tái	dressing table / vanity
床垫	chuángdiàn	mattress
枕头	zhěntou	pillow
被子	bèizi	duvet / quilt
床单	chuángdān	bed sheet
台灯	táidēng	bedside lamp
五斗柜	wǔdǒu guì	chest of drawers
穿衣镜	chuān yī jìng	full-length mirror
炕	kàng	kang bed (traditional heated brick platform)

The 炕 (kàng) deserves special mention. Common in northern China, particularly in rural areas, it is a large heated platform made of brick or clay that serves as a bed, seating area, and workspace. Heated from below by a fire or flue, it was the central feature of traditional northern Chinese homes and remains in use today in some regions.

Kitchen fixtures and furniture

The kitchen (厨房, chúfáng) in Chinese has its own set of fixtures and built-in furniture pieces distinct from appliances.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
橱柜	chúguì	kitchen cabinet
水槽	shuǐcáo	kitchen sink
操作台	cāozuò tái	kitchen counter / work surface
餐桌	cānzhuō	dining table
餐椅	cān yǐ	dining chair
碗柜	wǎn guì	dish cabinet / cupboard
冰箱	bīngxiāng	refrigerator
抽屉	chōuti	drawer
刀架	dāo jià	knife block / knife rack
调料架	tiáoliào jià	spice rack
垃圾桶	lājī tǒng	trash bin
吧台	bātái	kitchen bar / breakfast bar

For more vocabulary connected to the kitchen environment, the article on kitchen items in Chinese covers utensils, cookware, and small appliances in detail.

Bathroom fixtures

The bathroom (浴室, yùshì, or 卫生间, wèishēngjiān) vocabulary includes fixtures built into the space rather than moveable furniture.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
马桶	mǎtǒng	toilet
洗手盆	xǐshǒu pén	washbasin / sink
浴缸	yùgāng	bathtub
淋浴间	línyù jiān	shower stall
毛巾架	máojīn jià	towel rack
镜柜	jìng guì	mirror cabinet
置物架	zhìwù jià	bathroom shelf
浴室柜	yùshì guì	bathroom vanity unit
皂盒	zào hé	soap dish
卫生纸架	wèishēng zhǐ jià	toilet paper holder

Office and study furniture

The home office or study (书房, shūfáng) is increasingly common in Chinese homes, and these words come up frequently in furniture shopping contexts.

Chinese	Pinyin	English
书桌	shūzhuō	desk / study desk
办公椅	bàngōng yǐ	office chair
书柜	shūguì	bookcase
文件柜	wénjiàn guì	filing cabinet
电脑桌	diànnǎo zhuō	computer desk
台灯	táidēng	desk lamp
白板	báibǎn	whiteboard
储物柜	chǔwù guì	storage cabinet
抽屉桌	chōuti zhuō	desk with drawers
博古架	bógǔ jià	display cabinet for antiques / curio shelf

The 博古架 (bógǔ jià) is a traditional open-shelving display unit designed to show off decorative objects, antiques, or collectibles. It often features irregular compartments of different sizes and is a staple of traditional Chinese interior design.

Outdoor furniture

Outdoor spaces (户外, hùwài) in Chinese homes and apartments increasingly feature dedicated furniture, especially on balconies (阳台, yángtái).

Chinese	Pinyin	English
户外椅	hùwài yǐ	outdoor chair
户外桌	hùwài zhuō	outdoor table
折叠椅	zhédié yǐ	folding chair
折叠桌	zhédié zhuō	folding table
吊床	diàochuáng	hammock
遮阳伞	zhēyáng sǎn	patio umbrella / parasol
躺椅	tǎng yǐ	recliner / lounge chair
秋千	qiūqiān	swing
花架	huā jià	plant stand / flower rack
阳台柜	yángtái guì	balcony storage cabinet

Useful measure words for furniture

In Mandarin, you cannot just say three chairs without a measure word between the number and the noun. Using the wrong measure word sounds unnatural to native speakers.

Measure word	Pinyin	Used for	Example
张	zhāng	flat surface items: tables, beds, desks	一张床 (yī zhāng chuáng) one bed
把	bǎ	chairs, brooms, handled items	一把椅子 (yī bǎ yǐzi) one chair
个	gè	general (when unsure)	一个柜子 (yī gè guìzi) one cabinet
盏	zhǎn	lamps	一盏台灯 (yī zhǎn táidēng) one desk lamp
块	kuài	rugs, flat fabric items	一块地毯 (yī kuài dìtǎn) one rug
面	miàn	mirrors	一面镜子 (yī miàn jìngzi) one mirror

For a deeper look at measure words across all categories, the guide on Chinese measure words walks through the logic behind each one.

Example sentences

These sentences use common furniture vocabulary in realistic contexts. Each includes the Chinese, pinyin, and an English translation.

Talking about what you need:

1. 我想买一张沙发。

Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī zhāng shāfā. I want to buy a sofa.

1. 我在找一张双人床。

Wǒ zài zhǎo yī zhāng shuāngrén chuáng. I am looking for a double bed.

1. 我需要一个书柜和一把椅子。

Wǒ xūyào yī gè shūguì hé yī bǎ yǐzi. I need a bookcase and a chair.

Describing a space:

1. 我的卧室里有一张床和一个衣柜。

Wǒ de wòshì lǐ yǒu yī zhāng chuáng hé yī gè yīguì. My bedroom has a bed and a wardrobe.

1. 客厅里的沙发太旧了。

Kètīng lǐ de shāfā tài jiù le. The sofa in the living room is too old.

1. 这张床垫太软了。

Zhè zhāng chuángdiàn tài ruǎn le. This mattress is too soft.

Asking for information:

1. 这张桌子是什么材料的？

Zhè zhāng zhuōzi shì shénme cáiliào de? What material is this table made of?

1. 这把椅子有没有其他颜色？

Zhè bǎ yǐzi yǒu méiyǒu qítā yánsè? Does this chair come in other colors?

Furniture shopping in china

Walking into a Chinese furniture store or browsing platforms like 宜家 (Yíjiā, IKEA), 居然之家 (Jūrán Zhī Jiā, a major Chinese furniture chain), or 红星美凯龙 (Hóngxīng Měikǎilóng, another major chain) requires a specific set of shopping phrases.

Key shopping vocabulary:

Chinese	Pinyin	English
家具店	jiājù diàn	furniture store
样品	yàngpǐn	floor sample / display model
定制	dìngzhì	custom-made / made to order
送货	sònghuò	delivery
安装	ānzhuāng	installation / assembly
保修	bǎoxiū	warranty
尺寸	chǐcùn	dimensions / size
材质	cáizhì	material
实木	shímù	solid wood
板材	bǎn cái	engineered wood / board material
打折	dǎzhé	on sale / discounted
退换货	tuì huàn huò	return or exchange policy

Useful phrases for furniture shopping:

• 这个多少钱？

Zhège duōshao qián? How much is this?

• 有没有更便宜的款式？

Yǒu méiyǒu gèng piányí de kuǎnshì? Do you have a cheaper style?

• 可以送到这个地址吗？

Kěyǐ sòng dào zhège dìzhǐ ma? Can you deliver to this address?

• 安装费是多少？

Ānzhuāng fèi shì duōshao? How much is the installation fee?

• 这个有保修吗？

Zhège yǒu bǎoxiū ma? Does this come with a warranty?

• 我可以看看尺寸吗？

Wǒ kěyǐ kàn kàn chǐcùn ma? Can I check the dimensions?

• 这是样品还是现货？

Zhè shì yàngpǐn háishì xiànhuò? Is this a floor model or current stock?

A note on paying in China: Most furniture stores in China accept WeChat Pay (微信支付, Wēixìn zhīfù) and Alipay (支付宝, Zhīfùbǎo). Cash is accepted but less common for large purchases. Some stores also offer installment payment plans (分期付款, fēnqī fùkuǎn).

If you are comparing Chinese furniture to the Western pieces you already know, focus on the room-layout patterns in the tables above and practice describing the pieces in complete sentences.

Putting it all together

Furniture vocabulary opens up a whole layer of Chinese daily life that most learners skip. Once you know these words, you can navigate apartment listings, discuss home decor with Chinese friends, shop confidently in stores, and understand conversations that previously sounded like noise.

The real challenge is not memorizing the words on a list. It is getting comfortable using them in fast, real conversations where you need to respond on the spot. A Chinese tutor online can run you through furniture shopping role-plays, correct your measure word usage, and give you feedback on the tones that native speakers actually notice. With more than 10M+ learners on the platform, italki has connected students with tutors for exactly this kind of practical, focused practice. Book a trial lesson and turn this vocabulary list into something you can actually use.

FAQ

What is the most common mistake learners make with Chinese furniture vocabulary?

Using the wrong measure word is the most frequent error. Learners often default to 个 (gè) for everything, but furniture items each have their own measure word: 张 (zhāng) for flat surfaces like beds and tables, 把 (bǎ) for chairs, 盏 (zhǎn) for lamps, and 面 (miàn) for mirrors. Getting these right makes a noticeable difference to native speakers.

Are Chinese furniture store conventions different from Western ones?

Yes, in a few ways. Floor samples are often the only available stock for immediate pickup; other items are ordered and delivered. Haggling is less common in chain stores but still happens in independent shops and markets. Delivery typically includes assembly, and fees for this service are often quoted separately from the item price.

How do I ask for the dimensions of a piece of furniture in Chinese?

Say 这个家具的尺寸是多少？(Zhège jiājù de chǐcùn shì duōshao?) meaning What are the dimensions of this furniture piece? If you already have a measurement in mind, you can say 我需要宽XX厘米的 (Wǒ xūyào kuān XX lí mǐ de), meaning I need one that is XX centimeters wide. Dimensions in China are always given in centimeters.