上台

shàngtái

verb HSK 6 #4,089

Meanings

1 to go on stage; to mount a platform
2 to come to power; to take office

Characters

to go up; to ascend

platform; stage; terrace

Going up onto the stage — literally or figuratively rising to power.

Examples

演员们一个接一个地上台表演。

Yǎnyuánmen yī gè jiē yī gè de shàng tái biǎoyǎn.

The performers went on stage one after another.

新总统上台后推行了很多改革。

Xīn zǒngtǒng shàng tái hòu tuīxíng le hěn duō gǎigé.

The new president pushed many reforms after taking office.

他上台发言的时候很紧张。

Tā shàng tái fāyán de shíhou hěn jǐnzhāng.

He was very nervous when he went up to speak.

这个领导上台才三个月。

Zhège lǐngdǎo shàng tái cái sān gè yuè.

This leader has only been in power for three months.

Tips

usage

上台 has two distinct uses: (1) physically going on a stage to perform or speak, and (2) metaphorically coming to power/taking office. The political meaning is very common in news.

usage

The opposite is 下台 (xià tái) — to step down from power, or to leave the stage. 下台 can also mean 'to be put in an awkward position' (给某人下不了台 = to embarrass someone).

Stroke Order

上 shàng

台 tái