台 meaning and stroke order
(classical) you (in letters); variant of 臺|台[tai2]
How to write 台, stroke by stroke
5 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Meaning of 台
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- desk; table; counter
- platform
- stage
- terrace
- stand
- support
- used in place names
How 台 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 台
台 is built from 厶 on top of 口. Picture the 口 as a raised box or stage, with a small figure 厶 standing on top of it, like a performer on a platform.
台 means a raised platform or stand, and it appears in many words for stages, counters, and stations, such as 舞台 (wǔtái) and 电视台 (diànshìtái). It is also a measure word for machines like computers, TVs, and cars. 我家有两台电脑。(Wǒ jiā yǒu liǎng tái diànnǎo.) My family has two computers.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 台 (tái) with 治 (zhì) or 始 (shǐ), which contain 台 as a part but have different sounds and meanings. Also note that 台风 usually means typhoon in everyday speech, even though it can also mean stage presence.
Common words with 台
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 舞台 | wǔtái | (lit. and fig.) stage; arena | HSK 3 |
| 电台 | diàntái | transmitter-receiver; broadcasting station | HSK 3 |
| 电视台 | diànshìtái | television station | HSK 3 |
| 台上 | táishàng | on stage | HSK 4 |
| 阳台 | yángtái | balcony; porch | HSK 4 |
| 台阶 | táijiē | steps; flight of steps | HSK 4 |
| 窗台 | chuāngtái | windowsill; window ledge | HSK 4 |
| 台风 | táifēng | stage presence, poise | HSK 5 |
| 上台 | shàngtái | to rise to power (in politics); to go on stage (in the theater) | HSK 6 |
| 平台 | píngtái | platform; terrace | HSK 6 |
| 站台 | zhàntái | platform (at a railway station); (Tw) (of an influential person) to publicly endorse or ca | HSK 6 |
| 台灯 | táidēng | desk lamp; table lamp | HSK 6 |
| 出台 | chūtái | to officially launch (a policy, program etc); to appear on stage | HSK 6 |
| 写字台 | xiězìtái | writing desk | HSK 6 |
台 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 台
Learning 台 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 台
How many strokes are in 台?
台 is written with 5 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 台 mean?
台 (tái) means (classical) you (in letters); variant of 臺|台[tai2]. A common word with it is 舞台 (wǔtái), meaning "(lit. and fig.) stage; arena".
How do you pronounce 台?
台 is pronounced tái, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 台?
The radical of 台 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 台 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 台?
The traditional form of 台 is 檯, 臺 and 颱. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 台 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 台 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 台 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
Why is 台 used as a measure word for machines?
台 is the standard measure word for machines and equipment that sit on a stand or surface, such as 一台电视 (yì tái diànshì), one TV, or 一台洗衣机 (yì tái xǐyījī), one washing machine. Use it for appliances, computers, and similar devices.
Does 台 mean Taiwan?
Yes, 台 is the short form of 台湾 (Táiwān), Taiwan, and appears in words like 台北 (Táiběi), Taipei. The reading tāi only shows up in a few place names, so in almost all cases you say tái.