Japanese word

段

Pronunciation

Romajidan

Meaning

  • nounstep

Example

この段に座ります。ko no dan ni suwa ri ma su

I sit on this step.

Illustration for 段 (step)

More examples

その箱を段の上に置いてください。so no bako o dan no ue ni o i te ku da sa i

Please put that box on the step.

Core concept

Describes one raised level that supports movement or separates one height from another.

Common phrases

  • 一段ずつ上るichi dan zu tsu nobo ru

    go up one step at a time

  • 段を飛ばすdan o to ba su

    skip a step

Similar words

踏み段fumidan: A physical step that provides a place for the foot during upward or downward movement.
ステップsuteppu: A borrowed term for a step used to help a person move between nearby levels.

Definition in Japanese

階段などで、足を乗せたり腰を下ろしたりする一つの平らな部分。kai dan na do de ashi o no se ta ri koshi o o ro shi ta ri su ru hito tsu no tai ra na bu bun

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese noun 段 (dan, "step; section") is a single-kanji borrowing from Chinese, with the on'yomi dan reflecting Chinese duàn.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese martial arts, English speakers often know 段 (dan, "rank; level") as a rank, while the same word also denotes a physical step.

Other meanings

  • stairnoun

Word lists with this word