前台

前臺

qiántái

noun HSK 7-9 #7,319

Meanings

1 front desk; reception
2 foreground (computing)

Characters

platform; counter

Literally 'front platform' - the counter at the front of a hotel or office.

Examples

HSK 3

前台的服务员很热情。

Qiántái de fúwùyuán hěn rèqíng.

The receptionist at the front desk was very friendly.

HSK 6

请到前台办理入住手续。

Qǐng dào qiántái bànlǐ rùzhù shǒuxù.

Please go to the front desk to check in.

Tips

usage

In tech/computing, 前台 means 'foreground' (opposite of 后台, 'backend/backstage'). In everyday life, 后台 also means 'backstage connections' or 'backing' - as in 他有后台 ('he has powerful backers').

Stroke Order

前 qián

台 tái