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台阶 (tái jiē) — (literal) steps; flight of stairs; (figurative) a way out of an embarrassing situation, a face-saving exit

Definition

台阶 is a concrete thing — outdoor steps or a flight of stairs, often built in front of a building. 步 is a single step you take while walking, and 阶梯 is a grander indoor staircase. Figuratively, 台阶 also means a 'way out' that saves someone's face.

noun
(literal) stepsflight of stairs(figurative) a way out of an embarrassing situation, a face-saving exit
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 台阶。
    Qǐng xiǎo xīn tái jiē.
    Please mind the steps.
  • 台阶。
    Wǒ men xū yào gěi tā yí gè tái jiē xià.
    We need to give him a way out.
  • 台阶。
    Zǒu zhè duàn tái jiē jiù dào le.
    Walk this flight of steps and you'll arrive.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

台táistep
阶jiēstep

The 台, 'platform step', and 阶, 'stair step', combine to name a flight of steps.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 臺; 台 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 台 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (窗台, 电视台) it is 臺; in others (台灯, 台球) (台风) it is 檯 or 台 or 颱.

The traditional form 臺 is the 喬 + 室 form; earlier versions combined a sound part with 室, and an old reading saw it as a watch tower.

Open 台 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 階; 阶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
皆
皆jiē階jiē
Same sound today

The traditional form 階 uses 阝 (written in full as 阜) to relate to its meaning and 皆 to show its sound; the simplified 阶 is a later shorthand, so its right side is not the old sound part.

Open 阶 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Buildings & Structures

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