世界级 (shì jiè jí) — world-class (used attributively)

Definition

Used as an attribute before a noun (世界级的技术) or as a predicate to mean 'world-class' — at the very top international level. Mostly written/formal register, stronger than 普通.

adjective
world-class (used attributively)

Examples

  • 世界级。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī yōng yǒu shì jiè jí de jì shù.
    This company has world-class technology.
  • 世界级。
    Tā shì yí wèi shì jiè jí de kē xué jiā.
    He is a world-class scientist.
  • 世界级。
    Zhè ge guó jiā de jiào yù shuǐ píng dá dào le shì jiè jí.
    This country's education level has reached world-class.

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.

世界world
世shìworld界jièrealm
联合Side by side
级jílevel

世界 ('world') sets the scope of 级 ('level'), meaning top-tier.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
田田tiánfield
Sound part声符shēngfú
介
介jiè界jiè
Same sound today

界 is built from 田 (field) and 介. 田 carries the meaning, while 介 gives the sound.

Open 界 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.