Japanese word

階級

Pronunciation

Romajikaikyū

Meaning

  • nounclass

Example

その国には階級があります。so no kuni ni wa kai kyū ga a ri ma su

There are social classes in that country.

Illustration for 階級 (class)

More examples

社会の階級構造は、時代によって変わります。sha kai no kai kyū kō zō wa ji dai ni yo tte ka wa ri ma su

The class structure of a society changes over time.

Core concept

Presents people or groups as occupying different levels within a social or organizational hierarchy.

Common phrases

  • 階級意識kai kyū i shiki

    class consciousness

  • 階級構造kai kyū kō zō

    class structure

  • 階級関係kai kyū kan kei

    class relations

Similar words

社会階層shakaikaisō: A group in society whose members share a similar economic or social position.
身分mibun: The position held by a person or group within a social order.
階層kaisō: A distinct level in a system arranged from higher to lower positions.

Definition in Japanese

社会や組織などで、地位や待遇の上下を示す段階。sha kai ya so shiki na do de chi i ya tai gū no jō ge o shime su dan kai

Word origin

階 (kai, "tier") and 級 (kyū, "grade") combine in 階級 (kaikyū) to describe a level in a social or organizational hierarchy.

Usage tips

  • In English, class can mean a school group, a category, or a social level, while social class specifically refers to position in society.

Word lists with this word