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 functions as a structural simplification for several traditional characters, 臺, 檯, and 颱, while also existing independently as a classical character. Historically, 台 combined 口 (mouth) and 厶 (privacy), serving primarily as a phonetic component or classical first-person pronoun. In its simplified roles, it represents a raised platform or terrace when replacing 臺, a desk or furniture for 檯, and the term for typhoon with 颱. This unified form consolidates these distinct semantic origins into a single, streamlined structure.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

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.