How to Write 台 (tái) — Meaning “platform; stage; desk”

Imagine a traditional stage: the top part 口 is the mouth of a singer, and the bottom 厶 looks like a small table or stand. So think of a "mouth on a desk" — a TV station anchor speaking from a desk, which matches the word 电视台 (TV station).

Start with the top radical 口 (three strokes: vertical, top horizontal+right vertical, bottom horizontal), then write the bottom part 厶 in two strokes: a horizontal slant and a curved hook. A common mistake is making the bottom too wide or writing it like a separate 厶 with a dot — keep the bottom narrow and connected under the mouth.

口 alone means 'mouth' and has no bottom part, while 台 adds the 厶 bottom to change the meaning. 卟 is a rare character used for a divination sound, with a different bottom strokes (卜), so it looks like 口 plus a vertical stroke. Visually, 台 has a closed top and a curved bottom, unlike the simple shapes of 口 and 卟.

台 appears in common words like 电视台 (TV station), 阳台 (balcony), and 台阶 (steps). It often refers to a raised flat surface or a platform for activities. In Taiwan, the character 台 is used in 台湾 (Taiwan), making it culturally significant as the short name for the region.

Common words containing 台 include: 电视台 (diàn shì tái) — TV station; 台阶 (tái jiē) — steps; stairs; 阳台 (yáng tái) — balcony.