lau4 tai1樓梯楼梯
Jyutpinglau4 tai1
Yalelàuh tāi
Definition
Stairs, stairway, or staircase.
colloquialplaceshome
How it's used
While 樓梯 refers to the entire structure of the staircase, you often use 級 to talk about individual steps. In older buildings without elevators, it is common to refer to the floor level by the number of flights of stairs climbed. It is also frequently used in the phrase 樓梯底 to describe the small, often cramped storage space found underneath a staircase.
Measure word
tiu4條tìuhExamples
Are you taking the stairs or the elevator?
He fell down the stairs, luckily he is fine.
Related words
Common phrases
to walk up or down the stairs
the space under the stairs
Common mistake
Do not confuse 樓梯 with 梯, as the latter is a generic term for a ladder. If you are talking about a portable ladder for painting or changing a lightbulb, you must use 梯 instead of 樓梯.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
