梯

tī

弟 + 木

Definitions

tī (noun) ladder; stairs

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 弟 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 弟

About

梯 is a phonosemantic compound: the wood radical 木 marks it as a wooden climbing device, while 弟 (younger brother) supplies the sound. It primarily denotes a ladder, stairs, or stepped structure for moving between levels. By extension, it refers to anything with a staggered, step-like arrangement, terraced fields on hillsides, hierarchical organizations, or the systematic stages of a process.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天走楼梯。

Wǒ měitiān zǒu lóutī.

I walk the stairs every day.

电梯正在维修。

Diàntī zhèngzài wéixiū.

The elevator is under maintenance.

梯子放在仓库里。

Tīzi fàng zài cāngkù lǐ.

The ladder is placed in the warehouse.

这个梯形很规则。

Zhège tīxíng hěn guīzé.

This trapezoid is very regular.

团队分为三个梯队。

Tuánduì fēn wéi sān gè tīduì.

The team is divided into three echelons.

消防员用云梯救人。

Xiāofángyuán yòng yúntī jiù rén.

Firefighters use an aerial ladder to rescue people.

公司采用梯队式管理。

Gōngsī cǎiyòng tīduìshì guǎnlǐ.

The company adopts echelon-style management.

攀岩需要专业的梯具。

Pānyán xūyào zhuānyè de tījù.

Rock climbing requires professional climbing equipment.

Related Characters

Component: 弟

Component: 木

梯