阶 jiē stairs
stairs; steps
How to remember 阶: 阝 mound + 介 between = stairs. On the grassy mound behind the church, grandma squeezes between the tourists to climb the old stairs worn smooth by centuries of feet.
Component breakdown
阶 = 阝 mound + 介 between
- 阝 mound
- 介 between
- 𠆢 tent
- 丿 falling stroke
- 丨 stick
On the grassy mound behind the church, grandma squeezes between the tourists to climb the old stairs worn smooth by centuries of feet.
How it is used
- 阶段 jiēduàn is the essential word for "stage/phase": 在这个阶段 (zài zhège jiēduàn) "at this stage" - used constantly for project, life, and development contexts.
- 台阶 táijiē is literal stairs/steps, and figuratively "a way to save face": 给他个台阶下 "give him a way out of an awkward situation."
- 阶层 jiēcéng (social stratum) and 阶级 jiējí (class, Marxist/political sense) are more formal, sociology-flavored words.