Meaning
阳台 refers to a balcony or outdoor platform that extends from the exterior wall of a building, typically attached to an upper floor apartment or room. It provides outdoor space for residents to get fresh air, dry clothes, grow plants, or enjoy the view.
Usage
Commonly used in daily conversation when describing apartments or homes. Chinese apartments typically feature balconies where people dry laundry, store items, or create small gardens. In real estate contexts, 阳台 is an important feature that affects property value. Often appears with verbs like 上 (to go onto), 在...上 (to be on), or 晒 (to dry in the sun).
Examples
- 01我喜欢在阳台上喝咖啡看书。.I like to drink coffee and read books on the balcony.
- 02这个公寓有两个阳台，一个朝南，一个朝北。, , .This apartment has two balconies, one facing south and one facing north.
Characters
Measure words
- 个一个阳台
Common collocations
- 在阳台上on the balcony
- 阳台晒衣服to dry clothes on the balcony
- 封闭阳台enclosed balcony
- 开放式阳台open balcony
Origin
The word combines 阳 (sun/sunny) with 台 (platform), literally meaning 'sun platform' or 'sunny platform,' reflecting its function as an outdoor space that receives sunlight.