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等级 (děng jí) — grade, rank, level, status

Definition

等级 is a formal noun for a graded level or rank (hotel ratings, job tiers). Compared to 级 (a shorter, more neutral 'level'), 等级 emphasizes a structured ranking system.

noun
graderanklevelstatus
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 等级。
    Zhè jiā jiǔ diàn shì wǔ xīng děng jí de.
    This hotel is a five-star grade hotel.
  • 等级。
    Gōng sī lǐ bù tóng de děng jí yǒu bù tóng de gōng zī.
    Different levels in the company have different salaries.
  • 等级，。
    Tā de shè huì děng jí hěn gāo, dàn wèi rén hěn qiān xū.
    His social status is very high, but he is very humble.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

等děnggrade
级jírank

等 and 级 both refer to rank or level, so the word means grade.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
竹竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
寺
寺sì等děng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The top 竹 shows bamboo strips used for writing and sorting; the bottom 寺 once gave the sound, but now sounds different.

Open 等 →

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 6Abstract Concepts

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