台 tái — surname; (classical) you (in letters); platform; Taiwan (abbr.); desk; platform
演员们正在台上表演。Yǎn yuán men zhèng zài tái shàng biǎo yǎn.The actors are performing on the stage.
Common words: 舞台 (wǔ tái)、电视台 (diàn shì tái)、电台 (diàn tái)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "classical"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "classical", including 台 (tái), 云 (yún). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "classical" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 台 (tái), 云 (yún) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span tái, yún — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 台 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 台 táisurname; (classical) you (in letters); platform; Taiwan (abbr.); desk; platformUseful words: 舞台, 电视台
- 云 yún(classical) to say; cloud; (abbr.) for Yunnan; surnameUseful words: 多云, 乌云
Common words for these 2 "classical" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 台 (tái) — so "classical" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 2 ways to say "classical".
云 yún — (classical) to say; cloud; (abbr.) for Yunnan; surname
山顶上常常被云雾笼罩。Shān dǐng shàng cháng cháng bèi yún wù lóng zhào.The mountaintop is often shrouded in clouds and mist.
Common words: 多云 (duō yún)、乌云 (wū yún)、风云 (fēng yún)
All 2 characters
Open 台、云 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.