上台 shàngtái to rise to power (in politics)
to rise to power (in politics); to go on stage (in the theater)
How to remember 上台: 上 above + 台 platform = to rise to power (in politics).
Characters
How it is used
- Literal: to go up on stage - 上台演讲 (shàngtái yǎnjiǎng) to go on stage to give a speech.
- Figurative and very common: to come to power - 新政府上台 (xīn zhèngfǔ shàngtái) the new government takes office. Opposite is 下台 (xiàtái), to step down / fall from power, 政府下台 (zhèngfǔ xiàtái) the government falls.
- 下台 also means 'to get out of an awkward spot', giving 下不了台 (xià bu liǎo tái) unable to save face.