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上级 (shàng jí) — superior; higher authority

Definition

上级 refers specifically to people above you in an organization — higher-level authorities you report to or need approval from. Of the listed siblings, 上司 is your direct boss; 下属 is your subordinate.

noun
superiorhigher authority
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 上级。
    Wǒ de shàng jí shì yí wèi hěn yán gé de rén.
    My superior is a very strict person.
  • 。
    Nǐ yīng gāi xiān gēn shàng jí shāng liáng yí xià.
    You should discuss it with your superior first.
  • 上级。
    Zhè ge jué dìng bì xū jīng guò shàng jí de tóng yì.
    This decision must have the approval of the higher authority.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

上shànghigher
级jírank

上 is higher and 级 is rank, giving the sense of a higher rank or authority.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 級; 级 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìthread
Sound part声符shēngfú
及
及jí級jí
Same sound today

The traditional form 級 has 糹 (thread) and 及 as a sound part; its original sense was a sequence related to silk. The simplified 级 is a later shorthand.

Open 级 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Social Roles & Status

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