台

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: Written 台 and read だい, it denotes a stand or platform and also serves as a counter for vehicles and machines.
• Basic usage: It appears as a wooden base for a vase and in counting two cars left in a parking lot.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Object noun versus counter
  • By itself it can name a support, while after a number it counts machines or vehicles.