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梯子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
梯子tīziladderHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6773, Very Hard
梯子tīzistepladderHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #6773, Very Hard
tīzi(ti1zi5)ti zi T1
  1. 1ladder
  2. 2stepladder
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March 24, 2026

梯子tīzi(ti1zi5)

梯子 (ti1 zi5) refers to a ladder or stepladder used for climbing up or down. It is commonly used in construction, home maintenance, and various other contexts where elevation is required. The word can also imply a means of advancement or progress, metaphorically speaking.

Strokes14Frequency#6773DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, ladders symbolize progress and climbing to success, much like the phrase '一步一个脚印' (yī bù yī gè jiǎo yìn), meaning to make steady progress.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'T' shape for the vertical part of the ladder and the 'i' representing the rungs. Picture yourself climbing this ladder to reach a higher place, helping you remember 'ti' sounds like 'tea'—where you might sit on a ladder while enjoying tea in a garden.

Meanings of 梯子

tīzi(ti1zi5)
1ladder
2stepladder
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 梯子

梯子Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 梯子

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AI study notes for 梯子

Quick Contrast

梯 (tī) vs 阶梯 (jiētī) — use 梯子 (tīzi) for a physical ladder, while 阶梯 (jiētī) often refers to a staircase or metaphorical progression.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 梯子 with similar sounding words, as the tones are different. 梯子 is informal, suitable for everyday conversation, while in more technical contexts, like construction, you might use terms like 脚手架 (jiǎo shǒu jià) for scaffolding.

HSK Study Tips

While 梯子 is not an HSK word on its own, understanding its components can be beneficial for HSK vocabulary preparation. Focus on recognizing the character 梯, which relates to 'steps' and can help with other characters about elevation or progression.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the tones, saying 'ti zi' instead of the correct 'ti1 zi5'. Additionally, some may erroneously use 梯子 in contexts where a more specific term like 脚手架 is appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 梯子

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Component characters

梯tīladder
11 strokes木
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say ladder in Chinese

“ladder” in Chinese is梯子tīzi

梯子 (ti1 zi5) refers to a ladder or stepladder used for climbing up or down. It is commonly used in construction, home maintenance, and various other contexts where elevation is required. The word can also imply a means of advancement or progress, metaphorically speaking.

When to use 梯子

Be cautious not to confuse 梯子 with similar sounding words, as the tones are different. 梯子 is informal, suitable for everyday conversation, while in more technical contexts, like construction, you might use terms like 脚手架 (jiǎo shǒu jià) for scaffolding.

梯子 or something close to it

梯 (tī) vs 阶梯 (jiētī) — use 梯子 (tīzi) for a physical ladder, while 阶梯 (jiētī) often refers to a staircase or metaphorical progression.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the tones, saying 'ti zi' instead of the correct 'ti1 zi5'. Additionally, some may erroneously use 梯子 in contexts where a more specific term like 脚手架 is appropriate.

Write 梯子

梯
子

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Frequently asked questions about 梯子

You can say, '我需要一个梯子来修屋顶' (Wǒ xūyào yīgè tīzi lái xiū wūdǐng), meaning 'I need a ladder to fix the roof.'

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