Usage of the character 臺

Ocean platform in Zhongnanhai 中南海 ( Zhōngnánhǎi) surrounded by water on three sides, recreation area for imperial wives and concubines, more recently for communist top brass

píngtái

平台

[平臺]

platform
terrace
flat-roofed building

Máotái

茅台

[茅臺]

Maotai town in Renhuai county, Guizhou

chāitái

拆台

[拆臺]

(theater) to dismantle the stage
(fig.) to pull the rug out from under sb's feet; to undermine sb's plans

lóutái

楼台

[樓臺]

(dialect) balcony
terrace
(literary) high building
tower
(old) stage for theatrical performance

táiběn

台本

[臺本]

script (of a play, movie, or television program)

zhāngtái

章台

[章臺]

street name in ancient Chang'an synonymous with brothel area
red-light district

lùtái

露台

[露臺]

balcony
patio
flat roof
terrace
deck (unroofed platform)
outdoor stage
ancient imperial celestial observation terrace

dǎotái

倒台

[倒臺]

to fall from power; to collapse
downfall

yàntái

砚台

[硯臺]

ink stone
ink slab
CL:方 (fāng)

táishàn

台扇

[臺扇]

table fan
desk fan

Táiběi

台北

[臺北]

Taipei, capital of Taiwan

táidì

台地

[臺地]

tableland
mesa

Hàntái

汉台

[漢臺]

Hantai District of Hanzhong City 漢中市／汉中市 ( Hànzhōng Shì), Shaanxi

Tái Dà

台大

[臺大]

abbr. for 臺灣大學／台湾大学 ( Táiwān Dàxué)

pàotái

炮台

[砲臺]

fort
battery

chuītái

吹台

[吹臺]

(coll.) to fall through
to result in failure
(of a relationship) to break up

Táishì

台视

[臺視]

abbr. for 臺灣電視公司／台湾电视公司, Taiwan Television (TTV)

tiàotái

跳台

[跳臺]

diving platform
diving tower
landing platform

xìtái

戏台

[戲臺]

stage

Wǔtái

五台

[五臺]

Wutai city and county in Xinzhou 忻州 ( Xīnzhōu), Shanxi

Xiāntái

仙台

[仙臺]

Sendai, capital of Miyagi prefecture 宮城縣／宫城县 ( Gōngchéngxiàn) in northeast Japan

táipén

台盆

[臺盆]

washbasin

Táidōng Xiàn

台东县

[臺東縣]

Taitung County in southeast Taiwan

Tái'érzhuāng

台儿庄

[臺兒莊]

Tai'erzhuang district of Zaozhuang city 棗莊市／枣庄市 ( Zǎozhuāngshì), Shandong

liàowàngtái

瞭望台

[瞭望臺]

observation tower
lookout tower

Shuāngtáizi

双台子

[雙臺子]

Shuangtai district of Panjin city 盤錦市／盘锦市, Liaoning

xìnhàotái

信号台

[信號臺]

signal station

fāshètái

发射台

[發射臺]

launchpad
(radio, TV) transmitter

Táizhōng Shì

台中市

[臺中市]

Taichung, a city in central Taiwan

dǎlèitái

打擂台

[打擂臺]

(old) to fight on the leitai
(fig.) to enter a contest

táishìjī

台式机

[臺式機]

desktop computer

Táiluózì

台罗字

[臺羅字]

Tai-lo, romanization system for Taiwanese Hokkien (abbr. for 臺灣閩南語羅馬字拼音方案／台湾闽南语罗马字拼音方案 ( Táiwán Minnǎnyu Luomázi Pinyīn Fāngān))

Yìntái Qū

印台区

[印臺區]

Yintai District of Tongchuan City 銅川市／铜川市 ( Tóngchuān Shì), Shaanxi

Jīntái Qū

金台区

[金臺區]

Jintai District of Baoji City 寶雞市／宝鸡市 ( Bǎojī Shì), Shaanxi

kòngzhìtái

控制台

[控制臺]

control desk
console

táimiànní

台面呢

[臺面呢]

baize
felt (esp. billiards table cover)

shēnzhǎntái

伸展台

[伸展臺]

runway (for a fashion show etc)
catwalk

yuètáipiào

月台票

[月臺票]

platform ticket

Táiwānbēi

台湾鹎

[臺灣鵯]

(bird species of China) Taiwan bulbul (Pycnonotus taivanus)

Zhōng Gǎng Tái

中港台

[中港臺]

China, Hong Kong and Taiwan (abbr.)

zhǔxítái

主席台

[主席臺]

rostrum
platform
CL:個／个 (gè)

Sìfāngtái

四方台

[四方臺]

Sifangtai district of Shuangyashan city 雙鴨山／双鸭山 ( Shuāngyāshān), Heilongjiang

Gǎng Aò Tái

港澳台

[港澳臺]

Hong Kong 香港, Macao 澳門／澳门 and Taiwan 臺灣／台湾 ( Táiwān)

Táinánshì

台南市

[臺南市]

Tainan city in Tainan county 臺南縣／台南县 ( Táinánxiàn), Taiwan

yātáixì

压台戏

[壓臺戲]

last item on a show
grand finale

Táiběi Xiàn

台北县

[臺北縣]

Taipei County in north Taiwan (now renamed 新北市 ( Xīnběishì))

Táinán Fǔ

台南府

[臺南府]

Tainan Prefecture, a prefecture of Taiwan under Qing rule

Táiwān Dǎo

台湾岛

[臺灣島]

Taiwan Island

quánjītái

拳击台

[拳擊臺]

boxing ring

xiàtáijiē

下台阶

[下臺階]

to extricate oneself
way out

qiántáicí

潜台词

[潛臺詞]

unspoken dialogue in a play, left for the audience to infer; subtext
(fig.) implicit assertion

Diàoyútái

钓鱼台

[釣魚臺]

Diaoyu Islands, located between Taiwan and Okinawa, controlled by Japan – which calls them the Senkaku Islands – but claimed by China

guānxiàngtái

观象台

[觀象臺]

observatory
observation platform

Xīnglóngtái

兴隆台

[興隆臺]

Xinglongtai district of Panjin city 盤錦市／盘锦市, Liaoning

Hàntái Qū

汉台区

[漢臺區]

Hantai District of Hanzhong City 漢中市／汉中市 ( Hànzhōngshì), Shaanxi

Qīngwǎtái

青瓦台

[青瓦臺]

the Blue House (or Cheong Wa Dae), formerly the residence of the president of South Korea in Seoul (1948-2022), now a public park

lèitáisài

擂台赛

[擂臺賽]

single-elimination open tournament (the winner stays on until he is himself defeated)

Táiběi Shì

台北市

[臺北市]

Taibei or Taipei, capital of Taiwan

lǐngjiǎngtái

领奖台

[領獎臺]

(winner's) podium

fēnghuǒtái

峰火台

[峰火臺]

fire beacon tower (used in frontier regions in former times to relay information about the enemy, using smoke by day and fire at night)

Chágětái

察合台

[察合臺]

Chagatai (died 1241), a son of Genghis Khan

Táiwānshěng

台湾省

[臺灣省]

Taiwan province (PRC term)

Cóngtáiqū

丛台区

[叢臺區]

Congtai district of Handan city 邯鄲市／邯郸市 ( Hándānshì), Hebei

dìsìtái

第四台

[第四臺]

fourth channel
(in Taiwan) cable TV, FTV

táihǔqián

台虎钳

[臺虎鉗]

bench vise

fúwùtái

服务台

[服務臺]

service desk
information desk
reception desk

shòuhuòtái

售货台

[售貨臺]

vendor's stall

Táizhōng Xiàn

台中县

[臺中縣]

Taichung or Taizhong County in central Taiwan

èrréntái

二人台

[二人臺]

genre of song-and-dance duet popular in Inner Mongolia

Wōkuòtái

窝阔台

[窩闊臺]

Ögedei Khan (1186-1242), a son of Genghis Khan

wǔtáijù

舞台剧

[舞臺劇]

stage play

chénliètái

陈列台

[陳列臺]

stall

diànshìtái

电视台

[電視臺]

television station
CL:個／个 (gè)

Táixīxiāng

台西乡

[臺西鄉]

Taixi or Taihsi township in Yunlin county 雲林縣／云林县 ( Yúnlínxiàn), Taiwan

xǐliǎntái

洗脸台

[洗臉臺]

commode
dressing table
sink

shōukuǎntái

收款台

[收款臺]

checkout counter
cashier's desk

Wǔtái Shān

五台山

[五臺山]

Mt Wutai in Shanxi 山西 ( Shānxī), one of the Four Sacred Mountains and home of the Bodhimanda of Manjushri 文殊 ( Wénshū)

Wǔtáixiàn

五台县

[五臺縣]

Wutai county in Xinzhou 忻州 ( Xīnzhōu), Shanxi

duōpíngtái

多平台

[多平臺]

multi-platform (computing)

sītiāntái

司天台

[司天臺]

Observatory or Bureau of Astronomy (official title) from the Tang dynasty onwards

Guótáibàn

国台办

[國臺辦]

Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (abbr. for 國務院台灣事務辦公室／国务院台湾事务办公室 ( Guówùyuàn Táiwān Shìwù Bàngōngshì))

Wǔtáishì

五台市

[五臺市]

Wutai city in Shanxi

máotáijiǔ

茅台酒

[茅臺酒]

maotai (a strong spirit produced in Guizhou)
CL:杯 (bēi),瓶 (píng)

Yǔhuātái

雨花台

[雨花臺]

Yuhuatai district of Nanjing City 南京市 in Jiangsu 江蘇／江苏

lóutītái

楼梯台

[樓梯臺]

staircase balcony
landing

Wùtáixiāng

雾台乡

[霧臺鄉]

Wutai township in Pingtung County 屏東縣／屏东县 ( Píngdōng Xiàn), Taiwan

Táiwāndàijú

台湾戴菊

[臺灣戴菊]

(bird species of China) flamecrest (Regulus goodfellowi)

Táiwānjiāoméi

台湾鹪鹛

[臺灣鷦鶥]

(bird species of China) Taiwan wren-babbler (Pnoepyga formosana)

jìnshuǐlóutái

近水楼台

[近水樓臺]

lit. a pavilion near the water (idiom); fig. using one's proximity to the powerful to obtain favor

Táiwānhuàméi

台湾画眉

[臺灣畫眉]

(bird species of China) Taiwan hwamei (Garrulax taewanus)

ruǎnjiànpíngtái

软件平台

[軟件平臺]

software platform

Shuāngtáiziqū

双台子区

[雙臺子區]

Shuangtai district of Panjin city 盤錦市／盘锦市, Liaoning

Táiwānlánquè

台湾蓝鹊

[臺灣藍鵲]

(bird species of China) Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea)

kāitáiluógǔ

开台锣鼓

[開臺鑼鼓]

opening gong
gong strokes announcing start of opera performance

dēngtáibiǎoyǎn

登台表演

[登臺表演]

to go on stage

cǎotáibānzi

草台班子

[草臺班子]

small, poorly-equipped theatrical troupe that tours small towns and villages
(fig.) makeshift band of individuals
rough and ready outfit

yìngjiànpíngtái

硬件平台

[硬件平臺]

hardware platform

Zhōnghuá Táiběi

中华台北

[中華臺北]

Chinese Taipei, name for Taiwan to which the PRC and Taiwan agreed for the purpose of participation in international events

Sìfāngtáiqū

四方台区

[四方臺區]

Sifangtai district of Shuangyashan city 雙鴨山／双鸭山 ( Shuāngyāshān), Heilongjiang

Táiwāntǔgǒu

台湾土狗

[臺灣土狗]

Formosan mountain dog, a breed native to Taiwan

guǎngbōdiàntái

广播电台

[廣播電臺]

radio station
broadcasting station
CL:個／个 (gè),家 (jiā)

xiàbuliǎotái

下不了台

[下不了臺]

to be unable to extricate oneself gracefully
to be put on the spot
to be embarrassed

chàngduìtáixì

唱对台戏

[唱對臺戲]

to put on a rival show (idiom); to set oneself up against sb
to get into confrontation

Dàgūpàotái

大沽炮台

[大沽砲臺]

Taku Forts, maritime defense works in Tianjin dating back to the Ming dynasty, playing a prominent role during the Opium Wars (1839-1860)

Táiwān Dàxué

台湾大学

[臺灣大學]

National Taiwan University
abbr. to 臺大／台大 ( Tái Dà)

zǒumǎzhāngtái

走马章台

[走馬章臺]

to go to the brothel on horseback (idiom); to visit prostitutes

zhàitáigāozhù

债台高筑

[債臺高築]

lit. build a high desk of debt (idiom); heavily in debt

qù Táirényuán

去台人员

[去臺人員]

those who left China for Taiwan before the founding of PRC in 1949

Xīnglóngtáiqū

兴隆台区

[興隆臺區]

Xinglongtai district of Panjin city 盤錦市／盘锦市, Liaoning

tíngtáilóugé

亭台楼阁

[亭臺樓閣]

pavilions and kiosks (in Chinese gardens)

xiàbùláitái

下不来台

[下不來臺]

to be put on the spot
to find oneself in an awkward situation

Wōkuòtáihán

窝阔台汗

[窩闊臺汗]

Ögedei Khan (1186-1242), a son of Genghis Khan

Táiwānquèméi

台湾雀鹛

[臺灣雀鶥]

(bird species of China) grey-cheeked fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia)

Táiwānlínqú

台湾林鸲

[臺灣林鴝]

(bird species of China) collared bush robin (Tarsiger johnstoniae)

Yǔhuātáiqū

雨花台区

[雨花臺區]

Yuhuatai district of Nanjing City 南京市 in Jiangsu 江蘇／江苏

tiàotáihuáxuě

跳台滑雪

[跳臺滑雪]

ski jumping

tíngtáilóuxiè

亭台楼榭

[亭臺樓榭]

see 亭臺樓閣／亭台楼阁 (tíngtáilóugé)

Táiwānzōngzàoméi

台湾棕噪鹛

[臺灣棕噪鶥]

(bird species of China) rusty laughingthrush (Garrulax poecilorhynchus)

Táiwānzǐxiàodōng

台湾紫啸鸫

[臺灣紫嘯鶇]

(bird species of China) Taiwan whistling thrush (Myophonus insularis)

Táiwānduǎnchìyīng

台湾短翅莺

[臺灣短翅鶯]

(bird species of China) Taiwan bush warbler (Locustella alishanensis)

Táiwānbānchìméi

台湾斑翅鹛

[臺灣斑翅鶥]

(bird species of China) Taiwan barwing (Actinodura morrisoniana)

Táiwānshānzhègū

台湾山鹧鸪

[臺灣山鷓鴣]

(bird species of China) Taiwan partridge (Arborophila crudigularis)

wěnzuòdiàoyútái

稳坐钓鱼台

[穩坐釣魚臺]

lit. to sit tight on the fishing terrace despite the storm (idiom)
fig. to stay calm in a tense situation

Dàgūkǒupàotái

大沽口炮台

[大沽口砲臺]

Taku Forts, maritime defense works in Tianjin dating back to the Ming dynasty, playing a prominent role during the Opium Wars (1839-1860)

Táiwānhuángshānquè

台湾黄山雀

[臺灣黃山雀]

(bird species of China) yellow tit (Machlolophus holsti)

shàngbùdétáipán

上不得台盘

[上不得臺盤]

(idiom) lacking in social grace and unfit to be a representative

Táiwānnǐzhuómùniǎo

台湾拟啄木鸟

[臺灣擬啄木鳥]

(bird species of China) Taiwan barbet (Megalaima nuchalis)

Zhōngyāng Guǎngbō Diàntái

中央广播电台

[中央廣播電臺]

Radio Taiwan International (RTI)

Táiwānbáihóuzàoméi

台湾白喉噪鹛

[臺灣白喉噪鶥]

(bird species of China) rufous-crowned laughingthrush (Garrulax ruficeps)

Táiwānjiǔhóngzhūquè

台湾酒红朱雀

[臺灣酒紅朱雀]

(bird species of China) Taiwan rosefinch (Carpodacus formosanus)

Aòzhōu Guǎngbō Diàntái

澳洲广播电台

[澳洲廣播電臺]

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australian state-run broadcaster

Táiwānbānxiōnggōuzuǐméi

台湾斑胸钩嘴鹛

[臺灣斑胸鉤嘴鶥]

(bird species of China) black-necklaced scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus erythrocnemis)

jìnshuǐlóutáixiāndéyuè

近水楼台先得月

[近水樓臺先得月]

the pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first (idiom)
to benefit from intimacy with an influential person

sāngenürényītáixì

三个女人一台戏

[三個女人一臺戲]

three women are enough for a drama (idiom)

Táiwānzōngjǐnggōuzuǐméi

台湾棕颈钩嘴鹛

[臺灣棕頸鉤嘴鶥]

(bird species of China) Taiwan scimitar babbler (Pomatorhinus musicus)

Guólì Táiběi Kējì Dàxué

国立台北科技大学

[國立臺北科技大學]

National Taipei University of Technology

rènpíngfēnglàngqǐ,wěnzuòdiàoyútái

任凭风浪起，稳坐钓鱼台

[任憑風浪起，穩坐釣魚臺]

lit. to sit tight on the fishing terrace despite the storm (idiom)
fig. to stay calm in a tense situation

táishàngyīfēnzhōng,táixiàshíniángōng

台上一分钟，台下十年功

[臺上一分鐘，臺下十年功]

ten years of practice for one minute on the stage (idiom)