entries → 台階
TSUMUGU · TOCFL C1 (est.) · 詞
台階 word · TOCFL C1 (est.)
台階 ＝ 台 ＋ 階
ㄊㄞˊ ㄐㄧㄝ · táijiē
noun — a step, a flight of stairs; figuratively a way to save face (給個台階下 — give someone an out)

字源 FORM — what the parts do

台a platform, a raised stand (平台)tái
階steps, a stair (階梯)jiē
台階，平台的台，階梯的階。

故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by

台子（台）前的石階（階），一級一級走上去。
Stone steps (階) climbing to the raised platform (台), one level at a time — and when someone is stuck up there, the steps are how you let them down.
記憶法
關 · Related
階梯jiētīa staircase — the same 階, the steps themselves下台xiàtáito step down, to get out of a fix — the same 台, walking back off the platform