阶级

• Pinyin: jiē jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 阶 = steps, rank; 级 = 糸 (silk radical) + 及 — grade, level, originally related to silk quality grades

Meaning

Class; social class. A political and economic term for groups defined by their relationship to production and wealth.

A more politically loaded term than 阶层, rooted in Marxist theory. Commonly appears in discussions of class struggle (阶级斗争), the proletariat (无产阶级), and bourgeoisie (资产阶级). While still used academically, it carries historical weight from the revolutionary era and is less common in casual conversation.

Examples

1. 这部电影深刻揭示了二十世纪初期的阶级矛盾。 This film profoundly reveals the class contradictions of the early twentieth century.
2. 他的研究重点是资本主义社会中的阶级分化问题。 His research focuses on the problem of class differentiation in capitalist society.
3. 在那个动荡的年代，阶级出身决定了一个人的命运。 In those turbulent times, class background determined a person's fate.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, academic

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 工人阶级是革命的主力军。(The working class is the main force of the revolution.)
• 这篇论文分析了阶级意识的形成。(This paper analyzes the formation of class consciousness.)

Don't Say

• 在日常对话中随意使用'阶级斗争' (Don't casually use 阶级斗争 in everyday conversation — it's a politically sensitive historical term; use neutral terms like 社会矛盾 for social conflicts)

Origin & History

Composed of 阶 (step; rank) + 级 (grade; level). Originally meant steps or grades, later adopted as the Chinese translation of Marxist 'class.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated speakers