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HSK 5

舞台

stage; arena

nounneutral
舞
wǔ3rd tone
台
tái2nd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
wǔtái
Part of speech
noun
Level
HSK 5
Strokes
19
Register
neutral
Measure word
个 / 座

Stroke order for 舞台

舞台 is written with 19 strokes (舞: 14, 台: 5). The animation replays automatically.

What does 舞台 mean?

舞台 (wǔtái) means "stage" — the raised platform where performances happen (站在舞台上, "stand on the stage").

Just as often it is used figuratively to mean an "arena" or "platform" where people or nations get to show what they can do: 国际舞台 (the international stage), 世界舞台 (the world stage), 历史舞台 (the stage of history). In this sense it frames opportunity and visibility — 给年轻人一个舞台 means "give young people a platform to shine."

The characters are 舞 (to dance) and 台 (platform/stage). Distinguish it from 讲台 (jiǎngtái), the lectern or podium a teacher stands at, and from the business word 平台 (píngtái), a "platform" in the sense of a system or marketplace (电商平台, e-commerce platform) rather than a performance space.

Note: Neutral; the figurative "arena" sense is common in news and formal writing.

Character by character

舞wǔto dance
+
台táiplatform; stage; stand
=
舞台

Memory hook: A 台 (platform) for 舞 (dance) and performance = a stage.

Example sentences

她第一次站在这么大的舞台上。

Tā dì-yī cì zhàn zài zhème dà de wǔtái shàng.

It was her first time on such a big stage.

neutral

这次比赛是他展示自己的舞台。

Zhè cì bǐsài shì tā zhǎnshì zìjǐ de wǔtái.

This competition is his stage to show what he can do.

written

中国企业开始走上国际舞台。

Zhōngguó qǐyè kāishǐ zǒushàng guójì wǔtái.

Chinese companies are stepping onto the international stage.

written

舞台的灯光突然亮了。

Wǔtái de dēngguāng tūrán liàng le.

The stage lights suddenly came on.

neutral

Common phrases with 舞台

舞台上wǔtái shàngon stage
国际舞台guójì wǔtáithe international stage
世界舞台shìjiè wǔtáithe world stage
历史舞台lìshǐ wǔtáithe stage of history

Synonyms

平台píngtái

平台 is a platform in the systemic sense — a marketplace, app, or framework (交易平台). 舞台 is a stage for performing or a metaphorical arena for showing ability.

Don't confuse 舞台 with

讲台jiǎngtái

讲台 is a lectern or teacher's podium. 舞台 is a performance stage or a figurative arena. Both share 台, but you teach from a 讲台 and perform on a 舞台.

台tái

台 alone is a platform, stand, or a measure word for machines (一台电脑). 舞台 specifically is the performance stage.

FAQ

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