臺階

臺階

1. 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?"

2. (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.

3. (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.

• (step): (Jin) 圪臺臺／圪台台, 石檐, 圪踏子; (Northern Min) 崎仔; (Hokkien) 砛 (jīn), 砛仔, 砛棧／砛栈, 砛坎仔

• 樓梯／楼梯 (lóutī)