正座

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 正座, read せいざ, is an upright seated posture with the knees folded and the body resting on the feet.
• Basic usage: In 畳の上で正座して先生の話を聞いた。, the listeners sat in this posture on tatami and listened to the teacher.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Specific sitting posture
  • 座る broadly means to sit, whereas 正座する specifies how the legs are positioned. Sitting upright in a chair is not in itself 正座.
• Action and duration
  • 正座して links the posture to a following action; 正座していた describes remaining in that posture.