地位

• Pinyin: dì wèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 地 = 土 (earth) + 也 (phonetic); 位 = 亻(person) + 立 (stand)

Meaning

Position; status; standing. One's rank or importance in society, an organisation, or a field.

Refers to social, professional, or cultural standing. Often appears in discussions about social hierarchy, career advancement, and the importance of something within a broader context. Common collocations include 社会地位 (social status), 国际地位 (international standing), and 地位高/低 (high/low status). Can also describe the importance of a concept or thing, not just people.

Examples

1. 教育在中国有非常重要的地位。 Education holds a very important position in China.
2. 经过多年努力，她在公司的地位越来越高。 After years of effort, her status in the company has risen higher and higher.
3. 这座城市在国际贸易中有着特殊的地位。 This city has a special position in international trade.

Usage Guide

Context: social, professional, academic

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他在学术界有很高的地位。(He has a very high standing in the academic world.)
• 女性的社会地位在不断提高。(Women's social status is constantly improving.)

Don't Say

• 用地位来形容物理位置 (Don't use 地位 for physical location — it only means social or hierarchical standing; use 位置 for physical location)

Origin & History

地 means ground, earth, or position, and 位 means place or seat. Together, 'the place one stands' — one's position in a hierarchy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal