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后台 (hòu tái) — backstage area (theater); backing, behind-the-scenes supporter; (computing) back-end

Definition

后台 has three distinct senses — a theater backstage area, an unseen supporter (like 后盾), and the computing back-end (paired with 前台). Compared to 幕后, 后台 is more concrete and often refers to a place or system.

noun
backstage area (theater)backingbehind-the-scenes supporter(computing) back-end
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，后台。
    Yǎn chū jié shù hòu, yǎn yuán dōu huí dào le hòu tái.
    After the performance, the actors returned backstage.
  • 后台，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ méi yǒu shén me hòu tái, quán píng zì jǐ nǔ lì.
    He has no backing in the company; he relies entirely on his own efforts.
  • ，后台。
    Zhè ge yìng yòng de qián duān hěn liú chàng, dàn hòu tái hái xū yào yōu huà.
    The front-end of this app is smooth, but the back-end still needs optimization.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

后hòuback
台táiplatform

后 means back, and 台 is a platform or stage.

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 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Film & TheaterComputers & Internet5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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