段階

• Reading: だんかい
• Romaji: dankai
• Kanji breakdown: 段 (dan) — step, tier; 階 (kai) — floor, stairs
• Pronunciation: /da.n.ka.i/

Meaning

Stage; step; phase. Describes a point in a progression or process.

A noun used to describe one step or phase within a larger process. Often appears with の (possessive) to specify which stage, or in expressions like 段階的に (step by step, gradually). Common in project planning, development, and explanations of processes.

Examples

1. まだ計画の初期段階です。 We're still in the early stages of the plan.
2. 次の段階に進む準備ができた。 I'm ready to move on to the next stage.
3. 段階的に難しくなるように問題を作った。 I designed the questions to get progressively harder.

Usage Guide

Context: project planning, education, development

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 段 (step, tier) and 階 (floor, stairs). Both kanji relate to physical steps or levels, metaphorically extended to abstract stages of progress.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal