Chinese word

台阶

Pronunciation

Pinyintái jiē

Meaning

  • nounsteps

Example

别跑，前面有台阶。bié pǎo qián miàn yǒu tái jiē

Don't run; there are steps ahead.

Illustration for 台阶 (steps)

More examples

她没有当众指责他，而是给了他台阶，让他有面子地承认错误。tā méi yǒu dāng zhòng zhǐ zé tā ér shì gěi le tā tái jiē ràng tā yǒu miàn zi dì chéng rèn cuò wù

She did not criticize him publicly, but gave him a way out, allowing him to admit his mistake without losing face.

Core concept

A small rise reached by steps, with the same image extending to a dignified way out of a difficult exchange.

Common phrases

  • 踏上台阶tà shàng tái jiē

    step onto the steps

  • 在台阶上zài tái jiē shàng

    on the steps

Similar words

楼梯lóu tī: A staircase made of connected steps for going up and down.
阶梯jiē tī: A stepped part formed by several levels arranged for climbing or descending.

Definition in Chinese

建筑或平台前的几级短阶，强调高度不大的一段台阶；俗语中亦可指留给他人的退路或面子。jiàn zhù huò píng tái qián de jǐ jí duǎn jiē qiáng diào gāo dù bú dà de yí duàn tái jiē sú yǔ zhōng yì kě zhǐ liú gěi tā rén de tuì lù huò miàn zi

Word origin

台 (tái, "raised platform") supplies the raised surface and 阶 (jiē, "step") supplies the means of reaching it, together forming a word that later supports the idea of a graceful retreat.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, offering this kind of retreat can signal tact, whereas refusing it can make a disagreement sound uncompromising.

Other meanings

  • stepnoun
  • way outnoun

Word lists with this word