Chinese

Noun

臺階 (classifier 級／级 (jí))

1. flight of steps

   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?"

2. a way out of an awkward situation

   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.

3. level

   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.

Derived terms

• (a way out of an awkward situation): 下臺階／下台阶 (xiàtáijiē)