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级 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
级
jí
level
HSK 5, q, 6 strokes, radical 纟, rank #2431, Hard
级
jí
grade
HSK 5, q, 6 strokes, radical 纟, rank #2431, Hard
级
jí
rank
HSK 5, q, 6 strokes, radical 纟, rank #2431, Hard
级
jí
step (of stairs)
HSK 5, q, 6 strokes, radical 纟, rank #2431, Hard
级
jí
classifier: step, level
HSK 5, q, 6 strokes, radical 纟, rank #2431, Hard
级
jí
level, rank; class, grade
HSK 5, q, 6 strokes, radical 纟, rank #2431, Hard
jí(ji2)ji T2
1level
2grade
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March 24, 2026
级(級)jí(ji2)
The character 级 (jí) refers to a level, grade, or rank in various contexts, such as educational grades or hierarchical positions. It is commonly used to denote steps in a process or system, like levels in a game or rankings in a competition.
Strokes6Radical纟Frequency#2431DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese education, the concept of levels (级) is crucial, as students are often ranked by their grades in exams, impacting their future educational opportunities. Understanding this word is essential for navigating academic discussions in China.
Memory tip
Imagine climbing a staircase, where each step symbolizes a different level (级) you reach. The character resembles a staircase with its horizontal stroke at the top representing the first step and the vertical stroke resembling the structure supporting it.
Meanings of 级
jí(ji2)
1level
2grade
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 级 means.
About 级
级Simplified
級Traditional
6Strokes
纟Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2431Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 级
Podcast: 级
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AI study notes for 级
Quick Contrast
级 (jí) vs 阶 (jiē) — use 级 for specific levels or grades, while 阶 refers to broader stages or steps in a process.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 级 with other characters like 级别 (jíbié, rank) and 层 (céng, layer), which both relate to levels but in different contexts. It is used in both formal and informal situations, so understanding the context is essential when using it.
HSK Study Tips
级 is typically associated with HSK Level 3 vocabulary, linking it to words related to education and classification, such as 学校 (xuéxiào, school) and 教育 (jiàoyù, education). Students should practice using it in sentences related to school grades or levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 级 (jí) when they mean 层 (céng) when referring to physical layers, like floors in a building. For example, saying '我住在三级' (Wǒ zhù zài sān jí) instead of '我住在三层' (Wǒ zhù zài sān céng) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 级
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 级 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
级 = 纟 + 及. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 级
IDS Structure⿰纟及
级Full character
=
纟si1
left
及ji2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 级?
How to say level in Chinese
“level” in Chinese is级jí
The character 级 (jí) refers to a level, grade, or rank in various contexts, such as educational grades or hierarchical positions. It is commonly used to denote steps in a process or system, like levels in a game or rankings in a competition.
When to use 级
Learners often confuse 级 with other characters like 级别 (jíbié, rank) and 层 (céng, layer), which both relate to levels but in different contexts. It is used in both formal and informal situations, so understanding the context is essential when using it.
级 or something close to it
级 (jí) vs 阶 (jiē) — use 级 for specific levels or grades, while 阶 refers to broader stages or steps in a process.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 级 (jí) when they mean 层 (céng) when referring to physical layers, like floors in a building. For example, saying '我住在三级' (Wǒ zhù zài sān jí) instead of '我住在三层' (Wǒ zhù zài sān céng) is incorrect.
Write 级
级
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Practice writing 级 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 级
级 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Many of the clothes come from the world's top fashion houses.
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Cultural Notes for 级
💡Did you know?
The character '级' is often used in educational contexts in China, where students are classified by their grade level. Understanding the grading system is essential for navigating the education system.
Word Family of 级
Words containing this character20
级jílevel級
超级chāojísuper-超級
高级gāojíhigh level高級
年级niánjígrade年級
升级shēngjíto be promoted升級
晋级jìnjípromotion晉級
各级gèjíall levels各級
级别jíbiélevel級別
等级děngjígrade等級
上级shàngjísuperiors上級
无产阶级wúchǎnjiējíproletariat無產階級
阶级jiējí(social) class階級
顶级dǐngjítop-notch頂級
资产阶级zīchǎnjiējíthe capitalist class資產階級
一级yìjífirst class一級
重量级zhòngliàngjíheavyweight (boxing etc)重量級
低级dījílow level低級
省级shěngjí(administrative) province-level省級
初级chūjíjunior初級
班级bānjígrade (in school)班級
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 级
What does 超级 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 级
级 (jí) generally refers to a level or grade, while 等级 (děngjí) specifically means 'rank' or 'class' and often implies a comparative assessment between different levels. For instance, 等级 is commonly used in contexts like product quality or hierarchical structures, whereas 级 can be more neutral and used in various contexts.
In educational contexts, 级 (jí) is used to denote different grades or levels of schooling. For example, students may refer to their class level as '一年级' (yī niánjí) for first grade or '三年级' (sān niánjí) for third grade. It helps in organizing students based on their learning stages.
级 (jí) means 'level' or 'grade' in Chinese. It is often used to describe a ranking or a step in a process, such as educational levels or stages of achievement. Additionally, it can refer to a classifier for steps or levels.
You can use 级 (jí) to describe someone's educational attainment, such as '他是二级学生' (tā shì èr jí xuéshēng) meaning 'He is a second-grade student.' It can also be used to refer to levels in a game or skill progression, like '这个游戏有五个级别' (zhège yóuxì yǒu wǔ gè jíbié), which translates to 'This game has five levels.'
You can say '我在三年级' (Wǒ zài sān niánjí), meaning 'I am in the third grade.'
Yes, 级 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more commonly found in formal writing, especially when discussing education or rankings.
Common phrases include 级别 (jíbié, level/rank) and 年级 (niánjí, grade/year in school).
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