Japanese word

級

Pronunciation

Romajikyū

Meaning

  • countergrade

Example

私は英検三級を受けます。watashi wa ei ken san kyū o u ke ma su

I will take Eiken Grade 3.

Illustration for 級 (grade)

More examples

友達は英検二級に合格しました。tomo dachi wa ei ken ni kyū ni gō kaku shi ma shi ta

My friend passed Eiken Grade 2.

Core concept

Marks a position in an ordered series, especially one assigned by a test, skill system, or other standard.

Common phrases

  • 英検三級ei ken san kyū

    Eiken Grade 3

  • 三級に合格するsan kyū ni gō kaku su ru

    pass Grade 3

Similar words

等tō: A grade or class used to show a level in a formal classification.
段dan: A rank in a system for measuring progress in martial arts or traditional arts.
位kurai: A position in an ordered hierarchy, contest, or list.

Definition in Japanese

試験や技能などの段階を数えて示す語。shi ken ya gi nō na do no dan kai o kazo e te shime su go

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 級 (kyū, "grade") uses the single kanji 級 (kyū, "class or rank"), borrowed from Chinese for an ordered class or level.

Usage tips

  • In martial arts, 級 (kyū) commonly marks a beginner rank below 段 (dan), so it often appears in discussions of training levels.

Other meanings

  • levelcounter
  • rankcounter

Word lists with this word