Definition
台阶 (táijiē) is the everyday word for a flight of steps or stairs, and it also has a unique figurative meaning: a way out of an embarrassing situation, a 'face-saving exit' (e.g., 给台阶下). 阶梯 (jiētī) is a more formal/literary synonym for physical stairs and figuratively means a stepping stone or ladder to success, not a face-saving exit.
noun
(literal) stepsflight of stairs(figurative) a way out of an embarrassing situationa face-saving exit
Examples
- 台阶。Qǐng xiǎoxīn tái jiē.Please mind the steps.
- 台阶。Wǒmen xūyào gěi tā yí gè tái jiē xià.We need to give him a way out.
- 台阶。Zǒu zhè duàn tái jiē jiù dào le.Walk this flight of steps and you'll arrive.
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