层级 (céng jí) — (noun) level, tier (in a hierarchy or system); (noun) stratum (formal, used in stratification theory)

Definition

A formal word for 'level' or 'tier' within a hierarchy — systems, organizations, or social strata. Think of it as the structured counterpart to the everyday 等级.

noun
leveltier (in a hierarchy or system)stratum (formal, used in stratification theory)

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè ge gōng sī de guǎn lǐ céng jí hěn qīng xī.
    The management hierarchy in this company is very clear.
  • 层级。
    Wǒ men de kè chéng fēn wéi liù gè céng jí.
    Our courses are divided into six levels.
  • 层级。
    Shè huì bù tóng céng jí zhī jiān xū yào gōu tōng.
    Different strata in society need communication.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

层cénglayer
级jírank

层 (layer) and 级 (rank) together describe a level in a hierarchy.

Characters in this word

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 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
尸尸shī
Sound part声符shēngfú
曾
曾céng層céng
Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Open 层 →

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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