Do you feel like you have people to back you up on a daily basis, in daily life? In Mandarin Chinese we have a special word for such sentiment, and the word is:
“后台 (hòutái)”
In reality the word “后台 (hòutái)” has two different meanings when we use it in a sentence.
1. “后台 (hòutái)” n. The area behind a theatrical stage, or “backstage.”
This is a more literal translation of the word and is used to define that particular space in a theatre.
Examples:
Tā zhèngzài hòutái wèi biǎoyǎn zuò zhǔnbèi.
他 正在 后台 为 表演 做 准备。
He is preparing for the performance in the backstage.
Nǐ zhīdào hòutái zài nǎr ma?
你 知道 后台 在 哪儿 吗？
Do you know where backstage is?
2. 后台 (hòutái): n. backstage supporter; behind-the-scenes backer.
This word is more versatile–Mandarin speakers use it to describe people who have the support or backing of people in a certain setting, such as a company, or in life in general. We also use it to describe “behind the scenes” of a situation.
Examples:
Jack zài zhè jiā gōngsī de hòutái hěn yìng.
Jack 在 这 家 公司 的 后台 很 硬。
Jack has a very strong backing in this company.
Monica cái shì zhè cì lèsuǒàn de hòutái.
Monica 才 是 这 次 勒索案 的 后台。
Monica was the one pulling strings behind the scenes of the blackmail.
This word is often used in a common Mandarin Chinese phrase: “有后台 (yǒu hòutái)”
“有后台 (yǒu hòutái)” is a common phrase when people use “后台 (hòutái).” When it comes to using “有后台 (yǒu hòutái)” in a sentence, the common structure is:
somebody + somewhere + 有后台 (yǒu hòutái)
E.g
Mandy(somebody) + 在公司（in the company, somewhere）+有后台。
Example:
Wǒ zài wǒmen gōngsī yǒu hòutái, shuí yě bù gǎn rě wǒ.
我 在 我们 公司 有 后台，谁 也 不 敢 惹 我。
I have strong backing in our company. No one dares to offend me.
Quiz:
1. Read the dialogue below and choose the correct answer.
A: Nǐ gěi wǒ děngzhe, wǒ yídìng bú huì fàng guò nǐ.
A：你 给 我 等着， 我 一定 不 会 放 过 你。
B: nǐ kě bié luàn lái, wǒ kě shì yǒu hòutái de rén.
B: 你 可 别 乱 来，我 可 是 有 后台 的 人。
In this dialogue, what does “后台 (hòutái)” mean?
A. Backstage
B. Behind-the-scenes backer
C. Actor
D. Theater
See Answer
— Written by Jennifer Zhu —
Jennifer Zhu is a professional Chinese teacher from eChineseLearning. She has many years of Chinese language teaching experience and received her B.A. and M.A. in “Teaching Chinese as a Second Language.”
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