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顶级 (dǐng jí) — top-notch, first-rate

Definition

顶级 marks the absolute highest tier — stronger than 高档 (just 'high-end') and 优良 ('fine, excellent'). Used for things at the very peak, like top chefs or elite athletes.

adjective
top-notchfirst-rate

Examples

  • 顶级。
    Zhè jiā cān tīng de dǐng jí chú shī lái zì fǎ guó.
    The top chef at this restaurant is from France.
  • 顶级。
    Tā mǎi le yí gè dǐng jí de pí bāo zuò wéi shēng rì lǐ wù.
    She bought a top-notch leather bag as a birthday gift.
  • 顶级。
    Zhè chǎng bǐ sài huì jù le dǐng jí de yùn dòng yuán.
    This competition brings together top-level athletes.

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.

顶dǐngtop
级jílevel/rank

“顶” means the very top, and “级” is a level or rank; together they describe the highest 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頂; 顶 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng頂dǐng
Same sound today

The traditional form 頂 pairs 頁, meaning head, with 丁, which supplies the sound; the simplified 顶 is a later abbreviation.

Open 顶 →

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 7-9Good & Bad

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