站台(zhàn tái) - platform in Mandarin

站台 (zhàntái) is the platform at a railway station, where you stand to board the train. It combines 站 (zhàn), "station, stop", with 台 (tái), "platform, stage", the same 台 (tái) that appears in 舞台 (wǔtái), "stage" for performances.

You will hear it in announcements such as 开往北京的火车即将在三号站台发车 (kāiwǎng Běijīng de huǒchē jíjiāng zài sān hào zhàntái fāchē), "the train to Beijing is about to depart from platform three". 站台票 (zhàntáipiào), "platform ticket", is the ticket you buy just to see someone off without travelling yourself.

Mainland China uses 站台 (zhàntái) as the everyday word, while Taiwan speakers more often say 月台 (yuètái) for the same thing. Both refer to exactly the same object, so recognise either if you are travelling.