The New Dictionary.
Search dictionary
Chinese/Dictionary entry

找台阶儿

zhǎo tái jiē rdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to find an excuse / to look for a pretext
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-6133a4127260a852. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

找台階兒 找台阶儿 [zhao3 tai2 jie1 r5] /to find an excuse/to look for a pretext/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 找台階兒

  • 找
    zhǎo

    to try to find / to look for / to call on sb / to find / to seek / to return / to give change

  • 台
    tāi

    used in place names

    tái

    (classical) you (in letters) / desk / table / counter / platform / stage / terrace / stand / support / station / broadcasting station / classifier for vehicles or machines / typhoon

    Tái

    Taiwan (abbr.) / surname Tai

  • 阶
    jiē

    rank or step / stairs

  • 儿
    ér

    child / son

    r

    non-syllabic diminutive suffix / retroflex final

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.