臺階

See also: 台阶 and 台階

Chinese

		(measure word); platform; stage (measure word); platform; stage; terrace; stand; support; desk; station; broadcasting station	rank or step; stairs
trad. (臺階/台階)		臺/台	階
simp. (台阶)		台	阶

臺階

step (on a flight of stairs) (Classifier: 級／级 m; 階／阶 m)
當心臺階。／当心台阶。 ― Dāngxīn táijiē. ― Mind your step.

女孩坐在臺階上大哭大喊：「我爸爸在哪兒？」 [MSC, trad.]
女孩坐在台阶上大哭大喊：“我爸爸在哪儿？” [MSC, simp.]
Nǚhái zuò zài táijiē shàng dàkū dàhǎn: “Wǒ bàba zài nǎr?” [Pinyin]
The girl sat on the steps, crying, and shouted, "Where is my dad?"
(figurative) level (Classifier: 個／个)
我希望你的中文輔導服務能把我的水平提高到一個新的臺階。 [MSC, trad.]
我希望你的中文辅导服务能把我的水平提高到一个新的台阶。 [MSC, simp.]
Wǒ xīwàng nǐ de zhōngwén fǔdǎo fúwù néng bǎ wǒ de shuǐpíng tígāo dào yīge xīn de táijiē. [Pinyin]
I hope your Chinese tutoring service will take my proficiency to the next level.
(figurative) way out of an awkward situation (Classifier: 個／个 m; 級／级 m)
給她個臺階下，免得她惱羞成怒死不認賬。 [MSC, trad.]
给她个台阶下，免得她恼羞成怒死不认账。 [MSC, simp.]
Gěi tā ge táijiē xià, miǎnde tā nǎoxiūchéngnù sǐbù rènzhàng. [Pinyin]
Give her a way out of the awkward situation so as to avoid her being shamed into anger.

Dialectal synonyms of 臺階 (“steps”) [map]

Variety	Location	Words edit
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)		臺階
Mandarin	Beijing	臺階兒
	Jinan	臺階兒
	Wuhan	礓踏
	Chengdu	坎坎, 梯坎兒
	Yangzhou	坡臺子, 廊簷臺子 with a roof
	Hefei	踏步子, 廊簷臺子 with a roof, 廊簷踏子 with a roof
Cantonese	Guangzhou	步級, 石級
	Hong Kong	石級
	Yangjiang	階基
Gan	Nanchang	坡子
Hakka	Meixian	斷
Jin	Taiyuan	圪臺臺, 圪臺, 臺階兒
Min Bei	Jian'ou	崎仔
Min Dong	Fuzhou	階座
Min Nan	Xiamen	崎仔
Min Nan	Chaozhou	路頭坎, 踏步層
Wu	Suzhou	階沿
Wu	Wenzhou	踏步級, 踏步
Xiang	Changsha	隥子
Xiang	Shuangfeng	坦子