乙级 (yǐ jí) — second grade, Class B (in a ranking or classification system)

Definition

Literally 'Grade B / Class 2', the second tier in a ranking system — paired with 甲级 (top tier). Used in exams, product ratings, and proficiency scales.

noun
second gradeClass B (in a ranking or classification system)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 乙级。
    Tā de hàn yǔ shuǐ píng yǐ jīng dá dào le yǐ jí.
    His Chinese proficiency has already reached the second grade.
  • 乙级，。
    Zhè ge chǎn pǐn bèi píng wéi yǐ jí, zhì liàng bú cuò.
    This product was rated Class B, and the quality is not bad.
  • 乙级。
    yǐ jí De kǎo shì bǐ jiǎ jí jiǎn dān yì xiē.
    The second-grade exam is a bit simpler than the first-grade one.

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.

乙yǐsecond
级jígrade

“乙” and “级” combine to mean the second grade in a ranking.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The origin of 乙 is obscure, with old suggestions including a plant trying to sprout, a fish's intestine or gill bone, or flowing water.

Open 乙 →

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 →

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