What is the difference between 卓 and 台?


Someone else asked this question in another Japanese learning space I'm in and
I attempted to research it to find an answer for them, but I didn't quite get
a conclusive answer.

On goo, they define 卓 as
[物を置く台](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E5%8D%93_%28%E3%81%9F%E3%81%8F%29/)
and they define 台 as
[物をのせるもの](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E5%8F%B0_%28%E3%81%A0%E3%81%84%29/)

I also found [this article](https://99bako.com/1578.html) which I briefly
skimmed through, and while it doesn't specifically address the difference
between the two words/kanji in this question, there were mentions of them
throughout, but it didn't seem like there was any clear difference, that I
could find at least.

All I've been able to guess so far is that 台 is maybe broader in meaning in
regard to tables than 卓, since 卓 is defined as a type of 台. I also noticed
from my brief research that 卓 doesn't seem to be used by itself very often.
All I was able to find was 卓を囲む when it came to that. Otherwise it was mostly
just compounds like 食卓. Where as with 台 it seemed that it could be used by
itself or in compounds, either way.

I am assuming that there is perhaps a way to distinguish between the two based
on the characteristics of any given table at hand whether it would be more
appropriate to refer to it as a 卓 or a 台, but I was not able to find anything
covering this.




A 台 is closer to "stand" or "base". It can be big or small, depending on the
thing you put on it.

![台の例](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ugcs0.jpg)

A 卓 is closer to "booth" or "counter". It can refer to tables or desks in
general, but today it typically refers to some specialized desks you use while
standing or sitting by it. For details, please see: [When is a table not a
table?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/68362/5010)

![卓の例](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ksNvc.jpg)

Tables are usually just called テーブル.




A 台 is closer to "stand" or "base". It can be big or small, depending on the
thing you put on it.

![台の例](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ugcs0.jpg)

A 卓 is closer to "booth" or "counter". It can refer to tables or desks in
general, but today it typically refers to some specialized desks you use while
standing or sitting by it. For details, please see: [When is a table not a
table?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/68362/5010)

![卓の例](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ksNvc.jpg)

Tables are usually just called テーブル.

