Chinese word

初级

Pronunciation

Pinyinchū jí

Meaning

  • adjectiveelementary

Example

我参加了初级汉语班。wǒ cān jiā le chū jí hàn yǔ bān

I attended an elementary Chinese class.

Illustration for 初级 (elementary)

More examples

作为初级学员，你应该先掌握常用问候语。zuò wéi chū jí xué yuán nǐ yīng gāi xiān zhǎng wò cháng yòng wèn hòu yǔ

As an elementary learner, you should first master commonly used greetings.

Core concept

An early layer of a skill, before the more advanced layers.

Common phrases

  • 初级学员chū jí xué yuán

    elementary learner

  • 初级词汇chū jí cí huì

    elementary vocabulary

  • 初级教材chū jí jiào cái

    elementary textbook

Similar words

基本jī běn: Describes what is essential or the usual level on which something is built.
入门rù mén: Describes the first, basic material encountered when beginning to learn a subject or skill.
初步chū bù: Describes a first stage that is not yet complete or fully developed.

Definition in Chinese

用来表示入门、初步或基础阶段的程度，常用以区分不同难度或层次。yòng lái biǎo shì rù mén chū bù huò jī chǔ jiē duàn de chéng dù cháng yòng yǐ qū fēn bù tóng nán dù huò céng cì

Word origin

The compound joins 初 (chū, "beginning") with 级 (jí, "level") to name the beginning tier of a graded subject or skill.

Usage tips

  • For English-speaking learners, elementary can sometimes suggest primary school, while this Chinese adjective is a neutral label for an entry stage in a subject or skill.

Other meanings

  • introductory levelnoun
  • basic levelnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 初级学员chū jí xué yuánelementary learnernoun
  • 初级词汇chū jí cí huìelementary vocabularynoun

Word lists with this word