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台面 (tái miàn) — (noun) tabletop, desk surface, countertop; (noun, figurative) public appearance, outward image; the open/visible aspect of a situation; (noun, gambling) stakes, winnings and losses on the table

Definition

Literally the surface of a table or counter, but figuratively the public, visible side of a matter. In gambling it means the stakes on the table — how much is being won or lost.

noun
tabletopdesk surfacecountertop(noun, figurative) public appearanceoutward imagethe open/visible aspect of a situation(noun, gambling) stakeswinnings and losses on the table
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 台面。
    Chú fáng de tái miàn cā dé hěn gān jìng.
    The kitchen countertop is wiped very clean.
  • 台面。
    Zhè jiàn shì zuì hǎo bǎi dào tái miàn shàng lái tán.
    It's best to put this matter on the table and discuss it openly.
  • 台面，。
    Jīn wǎn dǔ chǎng de tái miàn fēi cháng dà, yíng shū dōu hěn cì jī.
    The stakes at the casino tonight are very high; winning and losing are both exciting.

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.

台táitable
面miànsurface

台 is a table or platform, and 面 is its surface; 台面 means the tabletop or outward appearance.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →
Appears in
Furniture

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