Definitions

tái (noun) platform; stage; terrace
tái (noun) desk; table; counter
Tái (noun) Taiwan (abbr.)

Etymology

Originally and were pronounced the same and thus written the same. Later was added to distinguish the characters.

About

The character "台" originated as an independent graph with its own etymology, historically representing a first-person pronoun in classical Chinese and structurally composed of "厶" above "口". Its traditional counterpart "臺" is built from the components "士", "口", and "至", and initially denoted a high terrace or observation platform. Over time, the semantic range of "台" broadened to incorporate the meanings associated with "臺", such as a stage, administrative bureau, or broadcasting station, thus evolving into its modern usage where it conveys these ideas while retaining its simpler form.

Example Sentences Hide

我的灯很亮。

Wǒ de táidēng hěn liàng.

My desk lamp is very bright.

他慢慢地走上阶。

Tā mànman de zǒu shàng táijiē.

He slowly walks up the steps.

湾是中国的一部分。

Táiwān shì Zhōngguó de yī bùfen.

Taiwan is a part of China.

她在舞上跳舞。

Tā zài wǔtái shàng tiàowǔ.

She is dancing on the stage.

这个平提供在线课程。

Zhège píngtái tígōng zàixiàn kèchéng.

This platform provides online courses.

电视播放了新节目。

Diànshìtái bōfàng le xīn jiémù.

The TV station broadcast a new program.

风明天可能登陆。

Táifēng míngtiān kěnéng dēnglù.

The typhoon may make landfall tomorrow.

演员们正在背诵词。

Yǎnyuánmen zhèngzài bèisòng táicí.

The actors are memorizing their lines.