Definition
跳板 has two related senses: a literal gangplank or springboard you walk on (e.g. between a ship and the dock), and a metaphorical stepping stone or staging area that helps you get to a better position or opportunity. The metaphor is very common in career, education, and business contexts (把这个工作当作跳板).
n.
(literal) gangplankspringboard (physical plank used for boarding or diving)(figurative) stepping stonelaunchpad (something used to gain a better position or opportunity)
Examples
- 跳板。Wǒmen zǒu guò tiào bǎn shàng le chuán.We walked across the gangplank and boarded the ship.
- 跳板。Tā bǎ zhè fèn gōngzuò dàngzuò jìnrù dà gōngsī de tiào bǎn.He treats this job as a stepping stone to enter a big company.
- 跳板。Liúxué jīnglì chéng le tā chuàngyè de tiào bǎn.His study-abroad experience became a springboard for starting his own business.
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