Chinese Conversation · Level 37
90 words
Chinese word
电梯
Pronunciation
Pinyindiàn tī
Meaning
- nounelevator
Example
这栋楼的电梯坏了。zhè dòng lóu de diàn tī huài le
The elevator in this building is broken.
More examples
下雨天我一般坐电梯上楼。xià yǔ tiān wǒ yì bān zuò diàn tī shàng lóu
On rainy days, I usually take the elevator upstairs.
Core concept
A sealed moving room that connects different levels of a building.
Common phrases
坐电梯zuò diàn tī
take the elevator
等电梯děng diàn tī
wait for the elevator
Similar words
楼梯lóu tī: Steps forming a passage for walking from one floor of a building to another.
扶梯fú tī: An automatic staircase that moves people between building levels on a slope.
Definition in Chinese
安装在建筑物内部，用电力驱动，封闭轿厢沿竖直方向运输人员或货物的升降设备。ān zhuāng zài jiàn zhù wù nèi bù yòng diàn lì qū dòng fēng bì jiào xiāng yán shù zhí fāng xiàng yùn shū rén yuán huò huò wù de shēng jiàng shè bèi
Word origin
电 (diàn, "electric") + 梯 (tī, "ladder") combine to name an electrically powered device that carries people between levels like a ladder.
Usage tips
- Chinese often describes elevator use with a verb meaning ride or sit, while English normally uses take, so a literal word-for-word translation can sound unnatural.
Opposites
- 楼梯lóu tīstairsnoun
Related words
- 电梯间diàn tī jiānelevator lobbynoun
- 电梯按钮diàn tī àn niǔelevator buttonnoun