tái · platform / terrace / stage
architecture
💡 How to pronounce

t → like the 't' in 'top'. ái → like 'eye' but with a rising tone.

📖 The Story

台 is a platform or stage — a raised surface where important things happen. The character shows a tall building on top of a base. In ancient China, platforms were built for ceremonies, performances, and watching the stars.

🎬 In Culture Today

The Peking Opera stage is a classic '台' — a square platform where the stories of Chinese history are performed. In martial arts movies, the 'fighting platform' (擂台) is where heroes prove themselves.

📚 Words

wǔ táistage
píng táiplatform
tái dēngdesk lamp
Tái wānTaiwan

📝 Example Sentences

演员在舞台上表演。

Yǎnyuán zài wǔtái shàng biǎoyǎn.

The actors perform on stage.

桌上有台灯。

Zhuō shàng yǒu táidēng.

There is a desk lamp on the table.