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下台

下臺
xiàtái
verb HSK 7-9 #10,694

Meanings

  1. 1 to step down from power; to leave office
  2. 2 to come off stage

Characters

下
xià
to go down; to leave
台
tái
stage; platform
Literally 'to come down from the stage/platform' - used both literally (performers) and figuratively (leaders losing power).

Examples

HSK 4
别让他下不了台。
Bié ràng tā xià bù liǎo tái.
Don't put him in a position where he can't save face.
HSK 5
演员下台后接受了采访。
Yǎnyuán xiàtái hòu jiēshòu le cǎifǎng.
The actor gave an interview after coming off stage.
HSK 6
总统被迫下台了。
Zǒngtǒng bèipò xiàtái le.
The president was forced to step down.

Tips

culture
下不了台 ('can't get off the stage') is a key expression meaning 'to be put in an embarrassing position with no way out' - closely related to the concept of 面子 (face). Making someone 下不了台 publicly is a serious social offense in Chinese culture.

Stroke Order

下 xià
台 tái