台阶 meaning in English

táijiē

steps; flight of steps

HSK 4nounTraditional 臺階11 strokes

Meaning of 台阶

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

táijiē

steps
flight of steps
step (over obstacle)
fig. way out of an embarrassing situation
bench (geology)

How to use 台阶

台阶 is used for physical steps in front of a building or along a path, and also figuratively for a face-saving way out. The phrase 给他一个台阶下 (gěi tā yí ge táijiē xià) means "give him a way out." Example: 小心台阶。(Xiǎoxīn táijiē.) Watch your step.

台 (tái) means a raised platform, and 阶 (jiē) means a step or rank, as in 阶段 (jiēduàn). Put them together and you get the steps that lead up to a platform.

Common mistake: Learners often use 楼梯 (lóutī) and 台阶 interchangeably. 楼梯 is an indoor staircase between floors, while 台阶 usually means a few outdoor steps, such as those at an entrance. Also keep 阶 (jiē) in the first tone and do not confuse it with 价 (jià, price).

台阶 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

他tā俩liǎ的de爱ài情qíng，已yǐ经jīng上shàng升shēng了le一yí个gè台tái阶jiē。

Their love has gone to the next level.

我wǒ每měi次cì去qù巴bā黎lí，都dū会huì去qù圣shèng心xīn大dà教jiào堂táng，坐zuò在zài台tái阶jiē上shàng，听tīng下xià面miàn的de人rén唱chàng歌gē、弹tán琴qín。

Every time I go to Paris, I visit the Sacred Heart Basilica, sit on the steps, and listen to the people below singing and playing musical instruments.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

台 tái · you · 5 strokes

阶 jiē · stairs · 6 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 台阶.

舞台	wǔtái	(lit. and fig.) stage; arena
电台	diàntái	transmitter-receiver; broadcasting station
电视台	diànshìtái	television station
阶段	jiēduàn	stage; section
台上	táishàng	on stage
阳台	yángtái	balcony; porch
窗台	chuāngtái	windowsill; window ledge
台风	táifēng	stage presence, poise
上台	shàngtái	to rise to power (in politics); to go on stage (in the theater)
平台	píngtái	platform; terrace
站台	zhàntái	platform (at a railway station); (Tw) (of an influential person) to publicly endorse or ca
台灯	táidēng	desk lamp; table lamp

Questions about 台阶

What does 台阶 mean?

台阶 (táijiē) means "steps; flight of steps" and is used as a noun.

How do you write 台阶?

台阶 is made of 2 characters: 台 (5 strokes), 阶 (6 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.

Is 台阶 an HSK word?

Yes. 台阶 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 台阶 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 台阶 is written 臺階.

What does 找台阶下 mean?

找台阶下 (zhǎo táijiē xià) means to look for a way out of an awkward situation without losing face. It literally pictures someone finding steps to climb down from a high place.

What measure word is used with 台阶?

The common measure word is 级 (jí) for individual steps, as in 十级台阶 (shí jí táijiē), ten steps. You can also use 个 (gè) in casual speech.