also: だいけい
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Geometric term for a quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides. The spelling 梯形 is now rare; modern Japanese uses 台形.
See also: 台形
古い教科書では「梯形」と書かれているが、今は「台形」が普通だ。
In old textbooks it is written as 梯形, but now 台形 is the usual form.
台形 is the modern standard spelling for 'trapezoid', while 梯形 is an older, now rare variant.
The kanji 梯 means 'ladder' and 形 means 'shape', reflecting the trapezoid's shape. The modern form 台形 uses 台 ('platform') as a simpler substitute.