阶梯 jiētī flight of steps
flight of steps; (figuratively) stepping stone; way to reach the goal of
How to remember 阶梯: 阶 stairs + 梯 ladder = flight of steps.
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How it is used
- A flight of steps, often figurative as a stepping stone to a goal - 知识是成功的阶梯 (zhīshi shì chénggōng de jiētī) knowledge is the ladder to success.
- Common in 阶梯教室 (a tiered/stepped lecture hall) and 阶梯电价 (tiered electricity pricing that rises by usage band).
- More metaphor-friendly than 楼梯 (lóutī, an ordinary staircase); 阶梯 evokes graded ascent.