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March 24, 2026
抬tái(tai2)
The verb 抬 (tái) means to lift or raise something, often requiring the effort of two or more people to carry it. It is commonly used in contexts where physical elevation or transport of objects is involved, such as lifting furniture or raising a flag. The nuance of this word implies a deliberate action often involving teamwork.
Strokes8Radical扌Frequency#2321DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, teamwork is highly valued, especially in physical tasks like moving or lifting heavy objects during celebrations or family gatherings, making 抬 a practical and culturally relevant verb.
Memory Tip
Imagine two people lifting a large table together, using the sound 'tái' as a cue. The character 抬 looks like someone lifting something above their head, with the top part representing the arms pushing up. Picture them saying 'tái' as they lift, emphasizing teamwork.
Meanings of 抬
tái(tai2)
1to lift
2to raise
Exercise 1 of 3
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About 抬
抬Simplified
8Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2321Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L4IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 抬
Podcast: 抬
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AI Study Notes for 抬
Quick Contrast
抬 (tái) vs 举 (jǔ) — use 抬 when referring to lifting something with effort, often involving multiple people, while 举 emphasizes raising something typically with the hands, often without the same implication of teamwork.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine two people lifting a large table together, using the sound 'tái' as a cue. The character 抬 looks like someone lifting something above their head, with the top part representing the arms pushing up. Picture them saying 'tái' as they lift, emphasizing teamwork.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 抬 with other similar verbs like 提 (tí), which also means to lift but often refers to lighter objects. This verb is more commonly used in informal contexts, and you might see it paired with nouns like '箱子' (box) or '椅子' (chair). Remember to use the correct tone as 'tái' has a high rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 抬 connects with other action verbs like 放 (fàng, to put down) and 提 (tí, to lift). Focus on using it in sentences that describe actions involving multiple people or heavy objects, which will help reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, teamwork is highly valued, especially in physical tasks like moving or lifting heavy objects during celebrations or family gatherings, making 抬 a practical and culturally relevant verb.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抬 with 提, using them interchangeably; for instance, saying '我提这个箱子' (I lift this box) instead of using 抬. The correct phrase would be '我抬这个箱子' since it implies the need for lifting with assistance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抬
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Grammar Patterns of 抬
抬 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
As soon as I walked out of the school gate, I looked up and saw her.
Common Confusions with 抬
抬vs提
tí
Both mean to lift, but 提 generally refers to lifting something with a handle or by hand.
抬vs搬
bān
搬 implies moving something from one place to another, while 抬 focuses on lifting.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to lift"?
or
Usage Notes for 抬
Misuse in contextCommon Error
Learners often confuse 抬 with other lifting verbs like 提 and 搬. Use 抬 when specifically referring to lifting or raising something, especially with multiple people.
The extreme right reared its ugly head in the 1980s.
4
他打了个哈欠，都懒得抬抬手遮一下嘴巴。
tā dǎ le gè hā qiàn， ， dū lǎn dé tái tái shǒu zhē yī xià zuǐ。
He yawns, not troubling to cover his mouth.
5
你把桌子抬起来一下好吗？
nǐ bǎ zhuō zǐ tái qǐ lái yī xià hǎo ma？
Can you just lift the table for a second?
6
他抬起手来抵挡那一拳。
tā tái qǐ shǒu lái dǐ dǎng nà yī quán。
He raised his hand to fend off the blow.
7
一道拦河坝将会在上游拦住水流，抬升水位。
yī dào lán hé bà jiāng huì zài shàng yóu lán zhù shuǐ liú， ， tái shēng shuǐ。
A barrage would halt the flow upstream and lift the water level.
8
她抬眼迅速瞥了他一下，然后眼睛又垂了下去。
tā tái yǎn xùn sù piē le tā yī xià， ， rán hòu yǎn jīng yòu chuí le xià。
She gave him a quick, upward look, then lowered her eyes.
9
她抬头看了我一眼，发际渗出细密的汗珠。
tā tái tóu kàn le wǒ yī yǎn， ， fā jì shèn chū xì mì de hàn。
She looked up at me with pinpricks of sweat along her hairline.
10
她抬头看了一下，然后继续画画。
tā tái tóu kàn le yī xià， ， rán hòu jì xù huà。
She looked up for a moment, then continued drawing.
Cultural Notes for 抬
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, teamwork is highly valued, especially in physical tasks like moving or lifting heavy objects during celebrations or family gatherings, making 抬 a practical and culturally relevant verb.
Word Family of 抬
Words Containing This Character11
抬táito lift
抬头táitóuto gain ground抬頭
抬高to raise (price etc)
抬起to lift up
抬举to lift sth up抬舉
哄抬to artificially inflate
抬杠to bicker抬槓
高抬贵手to be generous (idiom)高抬貴手
不识抬举fail to appreciate sb's kindness不識抬舉
抬轿子flatter抬轎子
八抬大轿palanquin with eight carriers八抬大轎
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抬 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抬
Common phrases that include 抬 (tái) are '抬头' (tái tóu) meaning 'to raise one's head' and '抬价' (tái jià) meaning 'to raise the price.' These phrases illustrate the use of 抬 in different contexts beyond just lifting physical objects.
Yes, 抬 (tái) is commonly used in Chinese, especially in daily conversations and activities that involve lifting or carrying objects. Its usage can be seen in various contexts, making it a practical character to learn for language learners.
抬 (tái) means 'to lift' or 'to raise' in Chinese. It can also refer to the action of carrying something with the help of two or more people. This character is commonly used in various contexts, such as lifting objects or raising one's hand.
You can use 抬 (tái) in a sentence like '他抬起了箱子' which means 'He lifted the box.' It is often combined with other words to describe the action of raising or lifting objects, making it a versatile verb in Chinese.
You can say '我们一起抬这个箱子' (Let's lift this box together).
While it's technically correct, 抬 is often reserved for heavier items or when teamwork is involved.
Words like 提 (tí) and 举 (jǔ) also mean to lift but have different contexts.
