台 (tái): Chinese measure word
How to use 台 (tái), the Chinese measure word for machines and devices: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
台
tái
machines and devices
What it's used for
台 counts machines and electrical appliances: computers, TVs, washing machines, air conditioners, printers. It also counts stage performances: 一台晚会 (an evening show).
Common nouns with 台
- 一台电脑 yì tái diàn nǎo computer
- 一台电视 yì tái diàn shì television
- 一台电视机 yì tái diàn shì jī television set
- 一台节目 yì tái jié mù program
- 一台相机 yì tái xiàng jī camera (abbr. for 照相机)
- 一台计算机 yì tái jì suàn jī computer
- 一台洗衣机 yì tái xǐ yī jī washing machine
- 一台话剧 yì tái huà jù stage play
- 一台机器 yì tái jī qì machine
- 一台空调 yì tái kōng tiáo air conditioning
- 一台收音机 yì tái shōu yīn jī radio
- 一台冰箱 yì tái bīng xiāng fridge
- 一台电梯 yì tái diàn tī elevator
- 一台仪器 yì tái yí qì instrument
- 一台录音机 yì tái lù yīn jī (tape) recording machine
- 一台微波炉 yì tái wēi bō lú microwave oven
Example sentences
-
我们家有一台电视。
Wǒ men jiā yǒu yì tái diàn shì.
We have one TV at home.
-
这台电脑太慢了。
Zhè tái diàn nǎo tài màn le.
This computer is too slow.
-
办公室里有三台打印机。
Bàn gōng shì lǐ yǒu sān tái dǎ yìn jī.
There are three printers in the office.
Common mistake
一个电脑 is common in speech, but 一台电脑 is the standard form in writing.
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