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平台 (píng tái) — (digital) platform, e.g., social media, computing, marketplace; (physical) platform, terrace, stage

Definition

平台 is a modern noun covering both a physical platform/stage and a digital or figurative platform (e.g. e-commerce, social media). Unlike 站台 (only a train platform) or 舞台 (a performance stage), 平台 ranges across all of these uses.

noun
(digital) platforme.g.social mediacomputingmarketplace(physical) platformterracestage
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 平台。
    Wǒ men zài píng tái shàng děng chē.
    We are waiting for the train on the platform.
  • 平台平台。
    Zhè ge píng tái tí gōng hěn duō yòng hù zài píng tái shàng jiāo liú.
    Many users communicate on this platform.
  • 平台。
    Yǎn yuán zhàn zài píng tái shàng biǎo yǎn.
    The actor is performing on the stage.

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.

平píngflat
台táiplatform

平台 combines 平 'flat' and 台 'platform' for a flat raised surface.

Characters in this word

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

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

Open 平 →

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 5Buildings & StructuresComputers & Internet

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