I'm sure 椅子 is more common but I can't find any information on the nuance of 席
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2018-11-17T23:16:28.197
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2018-11-18T10:47:35.583
29471
question
word-choice
What's the difference between 椅子 and 席?
The difference here is very much like the difference between `chair` and
`seat`/`seating` in English.

`椅子` quite literally means chair. See
[jisho.org](https://jisho.org/search/%E6%A4%85%E5%AD%90) as well as [Google
image search
results](https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=784&ei=UOrwW4nrBIvEvQTalLPIAQ&q=%E6%A4%85%E5%AD%90&oq=%E6%A4%85%E5%AD%90).

`席` is a slightly more abstract term primarily used to mean "somewhere to
sit", in the same way `seating` is used in English. `席` could be a chair, or a
bench, or a cushion on the ground. Phrases such as:

> この席、空いていますか？ (Is this seat open?)
>
> 席が足りません。 (There isn't enough seating.)

Are fairly common, and while you might be understood even if you replaced `席`
with `椅子`, it would sound very literal - you'll just be talking about
chair(s).

Note that there is also a word `座席`, which is quite similar to `席` with minor
differences as described [here](https://hinative.com/ja/questions/175476).
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answer