电梯
elevator; lift
diàntī
What does 电梯 mean?
电梯 (diàntī) is the Chinese word for 'elevator' (American English) or 'lift' (British English) — the powered vertical box that carries people between floors in a building. The characters literally read 'electric ladder.' Use 电梯 for the standard enclosed elevator car you find in apartment buildings, offices, and malls. To say 'take the elevator,' use 坐电梯 (zuò diàntī) or 乘电梯 (chéng diàntī, more formal).
The verb 坐 here is the same 'take / ride' you use for cars, buses, and trains. Don't confuse 电梯 with 扶梯 (fútī) or 自动扶梯 (zìdòng fútī), which mean escalator — a moving staircase. To 'press the elevator button' is 按电梯 (àn diàntī). Common compounds: 电梯口 'elevator landing,' 电梯间 'elevator room / shaft.'
Character breakdown
electricity
ladder; stairs
Memory hook: 电 (electric) + 梯 (ladder) = electric ladder = elevator.
Measure word for 电梯
Example sentences
我们坐电梯上去吧。
Wǒmen zuò diàntī shàngqù ba.
Let's take the elevator up.
spoken
电梯坏了，我们走楼梯。
Diàntī huài le, wǒmen zǒu lóutī.
The elevator is broken, let's take the stairs.
spoken
请按一下电梯，到十二楼。
Qǐng àn yíxià diàntī, dào shí'èr lóu.
Please press the elevator for the 12th floor.
spoken, polite
这家公司在二十层，要坐电梯。
Zhè jiā gōngsī zài èrshí céng, yào zuò diàntī.
This company is on the 20th floor — you need to take the elevator.
neutral
电梯里人太多，我们等下一部吧。
Diàntī lǐ rén tài duō, wǒmen děng xià yí bù ba.
There are too many people in the elevator — let's wait for the next one.
spoken
Common phrases with 电梯
Synonyms
升降机 is a more technical word meaning 'lift / hoist,' often used for industrial or freight lifts. 电梯 is the everyday passenger elevator.