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B1 noun #6,000 am häufigsten 6 Min. Lesezeit

阶层

jieceng Top 6,000

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At the A1 level, '阶层' (jiēcéng) is a bit advanced. You can think of it as a way to say 'groups of people' in a big city. Imagine society like a big building with many floors. Each floor is a '阶层'. People on different floors might have different jobs or different amounts of money. While you don't need to use this word often, you might see it in simple news titles about 'rich people' and 'poor people'. Just remember: '阶' is like stairs, and '层' is like a floor. Together, they mean the levels of people in society.

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For A2 learners, '阶层' starts to appear when discussing different types of families or jobs. You might learn about the 'middle class' (中产阶层). It is a formal way to group people. Instead of just saying 'rich' or 'poor', you use '阶层' to talk about social levels. You might hear it when people talk about schools or where people live. For example, 'different social strata' (不同社会阶层). It's a useful word to recognize when reading about how society works in China, especially in cities.

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At the B1 level, you should start using '阶层' to discuss social issues. This is the level where you talk about your background, your education, and your career goals. You might discuss 'social mobility' (阶层流动) and how hard work can help someone move to a higher stratum. You'll notice it used in phrases like '工薪阶层' (wage-earning class). It is more formal than '人' (people) and more precise than '组' (group). Using this word correctly shows you can handle more abstract and serious topics in Chinese.

At the B2 level, you need to distinguish '阶层' from '阶级'. You should understand that '阶层' is a sociological term used to describe modern social structures. You will use it in essays about economics, urbanization, and education. You should be able to discuss '阶层固化' (social stratification/solidification) and how it affects the younger generation. You will also encounter it in marketing contexts, where companies target specific 'consumer strata'. Your vocabulary should now include collocations like '跨越阶层' (to cross social strata) and '社会阶层结构' (social stratum structure).

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For C1 learners, '阶层' is a fundamental concept for deep social analysis. You should be able to discuss the nuances of how '阶层' is defined—whether by income, cultural capital, or political influence. You will use it to analyze literature, historical trends, and complex government policies. You should be comfortable using it in academic writing and formal debates. You'll explore how globalization affects different '阶层' differently. At this level, you are not just learning the word; you are using it as a tool to dissect the complexities of modern Chinese society and its challenges.

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At the C2 level, '阶层' is used with high precision in specialized fields like sociology, political philosophy, and macroeconomics. You will understand the subtle shifts in the usage of this word from the 1980s to the present. You can engage in high-level academic discourse about '阶层再生产' (stratum reproduction) or the 'fragmentation of social strata'. You should be able to critique different models of social stratification and discuss how '阶层' intersects with other identities like gender, ethnicity, and geography. Your mastery allows you to use the word with the same nuance and authority as a native expert.

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阶层 in 30 Sekunden

阶层 (jiēcéng) means social stratum or class, used to describe layers of society based on wealth and education.
It is a formal, sociological term, often used in news and academic discussions about social mobility and the middle class.
Key concepts include middle class (中产阶层), social mobility (阶层流动), and social stratification (阶层固化).
It differs from 阶级 (jiējí) by being more descriptive of lifestyle and status rather than political struggle.

The Chinese word 阶层 (jiēcéng) is a sophisticated noun used to describe the various layers or strata that exist within a society. Unlike simpler words for groups, 阶层 specifically refers to social stratification based on a combination of socioeconomic factors such as income level, educational background, professional status, and cultural capital. It is the go-to term for sociologists, economists, and journalists when discussing the structure of modern society.

Sociological Stratum: This refers to the horizontal layers of society. For example, the 'middle class' is almost always referred to as 中产阶层 (zhōngchǎn jiēcéng) in modern academic and formal contexts, emphasizing their shared lifestyle and economic position.
Social Mobility: When people talk about 'moving up the social ladder,' they use the term 阶层流动 (jiēcéng liúdòng). This highlights the fluidity (or lack thereof) between different social levels.

教育通常被认为是实现阶层跨越的最有效途径。(Education is usually considered the most effective way to achieve a leap across social strata.)

In contemporary China, discussions around 阶层 often revolve around the 'anxiety' of the middle class or the 'solidification' of social strata (阶层固化 jiēcéng gùhuà), where it becomes increasingly difficult for individuals to move from a lower stratum to a higher one. It is a word that carries weight, implying a systemic view of society rather than just individual wealth.

这个政策旨在缩小不同社会阶层之间的差距。(This policy aims to narrow the gap between different social strata.)

Register and Tone: The word is formal and objective. You will find it in newspapers like the People's Daily, in academic papers on sociology, and in serious television debates about the economy. It is rarely used in casual slang but is essential for any high-level discussion about society.

Using 阶层 correctly requires understanding its role as a noun that classifies people. It often acts as the object of verbs like 'cross' (跨越), 'represent' (代表), or 'belong to' (属于), and it frequently appears in compound phrases describing specific social groups.

他出生于一个普通的工薪阶层家庭。(He was born into an ordinary wage-earning class family.)

When describing movement between social levels, the verb 跨越 (kuàyuè - to leap/cross over) is very common. This reflects the Chinese concept of 'jumping' from one level to another through hard work or education. Conversely, when describing the lack of movement, the term 固化 (gùhuà - solidification) is used.

Common Adjectives: You will often see 阶层 modified by words like 精英 (jīngyīng - elite), 中产 (zhōngchǎn - middle), or 底层 (dǐcéng - bottom/grassroots). For example, '精英阶层' refers to the elite stratum of society.

社会阶层的流动性是衡量社会活力的重要指标。(Social stratum mobility is an important indicator for measuring social vitality.)

In more complex sentences, 阶层 can be part of a subject that discusses social conflicts or interests. For instance, '不同阶层的利益诉求各不相同' (The interest demands of different social strata are distinct from one another).

奢侈品品牌通常针对特定的富有阶层进行营销。(Luxury brands usually target specific wealthy strata for marketing.)

You are likely to encounter 阶层 in environments that involve critical thinking, social analysis, or economic reporting. It is a 'high-frequency' word in the intellectual and professional discourse of modern China.

News and Media: News anchors often use it when reporting on census data, income inequality, or new government subsidies. You'll hear phrases like '扩大中等收入阶层' (expanding the middle-income stratum).
Academic Lectures: In universities, particularly in sociology or political science departments, 阶层 is a foundational term. Professors will discuss '阶层结构' (stratum structure) and '阶层分化' (stratum differentiation).

这部电影深刻地反映了社会阶层之间的矛盾。(This movie deeply reflects the contradictions between social strata.)

In business and marketing, 阶层 is used to define target audiences. A marketing manager might say, '我们的目标客户是都市白领阶层' (Our target customers are the urban white-collar stratum). This usage is more clinical and less political than 'class'.

在这个互联网时代，信息不对称导致了新的阶层鸿沟。(In this internet age, information asymmetry has led to a new stratum chasm.)

While 阶层 is a useful word, learners often confuse it with similar-sounding or related terms. Understanding these nuances is key to sounding natural in Chinese.

阶层 (jiēcéng) vs. 阶级 (jiējí): This is the most common confusion. 阶级 (Class) is a term often associated with Marxist theory and political struggle (e.g., 'the ruling class'). 阶层 (Stratum) is a more modern, sociological term that emphasizes social position based on income and lifestyle without necessarily implying a political conflict.
阶层 (jiēcéng) vs. 阶段 (jiēduàn): 阶段 refers to a 'stage' or 'phase' in time (e.g., 'the first stage of the project'). Because they share the character 阶, beginners sometimes swap them. Remember: 阶层 is about space/society (layers), while 阶段 is about time (steps).

错误用法：我们正处于项目的一个社会阶层。(Wrong: We are in a social stratum of the project. Correct: ...阶段 stage.)

Another mistake is using 阶层 when you simply mean 'group' (群体 qúntǐ) or 'circle' (圈子 quānzi). 阶层 implies a vertical hierarchy. If you are just talking about a group of friends or people with a shared hobby, 阶层 is too formal and heavy.

To truly master the concept of social division in Chinese, you should be familiar with these related terms and how they differ from 阶层.

阶级 (jiējí): Comparison: More political and rigid. Often used in historical or ideological contexts.
Example: 工人阶级 (The working class).
层级 (céngjí): Comparison: Usually refers to a hierarchy within an organization or a technical system rather than society as a whole.
Example: 公司内部的层级非常严密。(The hierarchy within the company is very strict.)
群体 (qúntǐ): Comparison: A neutral word for any group of people. It doesn't imply a vertical hierarchy.
Example: 学生群体 (The student group).
等级 (děngjí): Comparison: Refers to ranks or grades, often used for quality, official positions, or military ranks.
Example: 这里的服务是最高等级的。(The service here is of the highest grade.)

Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to sound like a sociologist (阶层), a politician (阶级), a manager (层级), or just someone talking about people (群体).

虽然他们属于不同的社会阶层，但他们有着共同的爱好。(Although they belong to different social strata, they share common hobbies.)

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The character 阶 (jiē) contains the 'mound' radical (阝), which suggests a slope or elevation, perfectly capturing the idea of a hierarchy.

Aussprachehilfe

UK jiē céng

US jiē céng

Equal stress on both syllables in Mandarin.

Reimt sich auf

街 (jiē) 阶 (jiē) 接 (jiē) 层 (céng) 灯 (dēng) 能 (néng) 腾 (téng) 冷 (lěng)

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing 'ceng' as 'cheng' (adding an 'h').
Confusing the first tone of 'jie' with the second tone.
Mispronouncing the 'c' in 'ceng' as a 'k' or 's' sound instead of the 'ts' sound.
Failing to aspirate the 'c' in 'ceng'.
Merging the two tones into a single flat tone.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 4/5

Requires understanding of complex characters and sociological context.

Schreiben 4/5

Writing '阶' and '层' correctly requires practice with strokes.

Sprechen 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward but requires correct tones.

Hören 3/5

Common in news and serious podcasts.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

社会 (Society) 等级 (Rank/Grade) 层 (Layer/Floor) 人 (People) 钱 (Money)

Als Nächstes lernen

阶级 (Class) 固化 (Solidify) 流动 (Flow/Mobility) 中产 (Middle class) 精英 (Elite)

Fortgeschritten

社会分层 (Social stratification) 代际传递 (Intergenerational transmission) 文化资本 (Cultural capital) 话语权 (Discourse power)

Wichtige Grammatik

Noun compounding

中产 + 阶层 = 中产阶层 (Middle class stratum)

Adjective + Noun

不同的 (Different) + 阶层 (Strata)

Verb + Object

跨越 (Cross) + 阶层 (Stratum)

Possessive marker '的'

底层阶层的生活 (Life of the bottom stratum)

Prepositional phrases

在...阶层中 (Among the ... stratum)

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Beispiele nach Niveau

社会有很多不同的阶层。

Society has many different strata.

Simple subject + verb + object structure.

他属于哪个阶层？

Which stratum does he belong to?

Using 属于 (belong to) with 阶层.

这个阶层的人很有钱。

People in this stratum are very rich.

Using '...的人' to describe people within a stratum.

不同阶层的生活不一样。

Lives of different strata are different.

Comparing lifestyles of different strata.

中产阶层喜欢喝咖啡。

The middle class likes to drink coffee.

A common stereotype/example of a stratum.

他在这个阶层很努力。

He works hard in this stratum.

Using '在...阶层' as a locational phrase.

我们要了解每个阶层。

We need to understand every stratum.

Using 了解 (understand) with 阶层.

这是一个新的社会阶层。

This is a new social stratum.

Describing a stratum as 'new'.

工薪阶层每天都要上班。

The wage-earning class has to go to work every day.

工薪阶层 is a common compound word.

教育可以改变你的社会阶层。

Education can change your social stratum.

Using 改变 (change) with 阶层.

不同阶层有不同的爱好。

Different strata have different hobbies.

Plurality of strata.

他想进入更高的阶层。

He wants to enter a higher stratum.

Using 进入 (enter) and 更高 (higher).

这个城市有很多中产阶层。

This city has a lot of middle-class people.

Quantity word '很多' with 阶层.

社会阶层是复杂的。

Social strata are complex.

Adjective 复杂 (complex) describing the concept.

底层阶层需要更多帮助。

The bottom stratum needs more help.

底层 (bottom) as a modifier.

他的朋友来自各个阶层。

His friends come from all walks of life (strata).

来自 (comes from) and 各个 (various).

阶层流动性对社会发展很重要。

Social stratum mobility is important for social development.

阶层流动性 is an abstract noun phrase.

很多人担心阶层固化的问题。

Many people are worried about the problem of social stratification (solidification).

阶层固化 is a common social concern term.

这部小说描写了底层阶层的生活。

This novel describes the life of the bottom stratum.

描写 (describe) used with social groups.

中产阶层面临着巨大的压力。

The middle class is facing enormous pressure.

面临 (facing) + 压力 (pressure).

政府试图缩小阶层之间的差距。

The government is trying to narrow the gap between strata.

缩小...差距 (narrow the gap) is a standard collocation.

精英阶层掌握着大量的资源。

The elite stratum controls a large amount of resources.

掌握 (control/possess) with 资源 (resources).

他通过努力实现了阶层跨越。

He achieved a leap in social stratum through hard work.

实现...跨越 (achieve a leap/crossing).

不同阶层对教育的看法不同。

Different strata have different views on education.

对...的看法 (views on...).

社会阶层的分化在加剧。

The differentiation of social strata is intensifying.

分化 (differentiation) and 加剧 (intensify).

这种消费模式代表了富有阶层的品味。

This consumption pattern represents the taste of the wealthy stratum.

代表 (represent) and 品味 (taste).

阶层身份往往影响一个人的社交圈。

Social stratum identity often affects a person's social circle.

阶层身份 (stratum identity) as a subject.

专家分析了当前社会的阶层结构。

Experts analyzed the current social stratum structure.

分析 (analyze) and 结构 (structure).

贫富差距是阶层矛盾的主要来源。

The gap between rich and poor is the main source of stratum contradictions.

阶层矛盾 (stratum contradiction).

他致力于改善底层阶层的福利。

He is committed to improving the welfare of the bottom stratum.

致力于 (be committed to) and 福利 (welfare).

网络技术在某种程度上打破了阶层壁垒。

Network technology has broken down stratum barriers to some extent.

打破...壁垒 (break down barriers).

阶层意识在这一代年轻人中觉醒了。

Stratum consciousness has awakened among this generation of young people.

阶层意识 (stratum consciousness) and 觉醒 (awaken).

阶层的代际传递现象值得深思。

The phenomenon of intergenerational transmission of social strata is worth pondering.

代际传递 (intergenerational transmission) is a high-level term.

文化资本在阶层再生产中起着关键作用。

Cultural capital plays a key role in stratum reproduction.

阶层再生产 (stratum reproduction) is a sociological concept.

该政策的实施可能会导致阶层对立。

The implementation of this policy might lead to stratum antagonism.

阶层对立 (stratum antagonism/opposition).

由于信息茧房，不同阶层之间缺乏沟通。

Due to information cocoons, there is a lack of communication between different strata.

信息茧房 (information cocoon).

社会阶层的碎片化使得统一治理变得困难。

The fragmentation of social strata makes unified governance difficult.

碎片化 (fragmentation).

精英阶层的封闭性阻碍了社会的公平性。

The closed nature of the elite stratum hinders social fairness.

封闭性 (closeness/exclusivity).

他试图通过学术研究揭示阶层固化的根源。

He tries to reveal the roots of social stratification through academic research.

揭示...根源 (reveal the roots).

阶层地位的获得不再仅仅取决于个人奋斗。

The acquisition of social stratum status no longer depends solely on individual effort.

取决于 (depends on) and 个人奋斗 (individual effort).

在全球化背景下，阶层结构发生了深刻重组。

Against the backdrop of globalization, the stratum structure has undergone profound reorganization.

深刻重组 (profound reorganization).

符号消费在维持阶层边界方面具有象征意义。

Symbolic consumption has symbolic significance in maintaining stratum boundaries.

符号消费 (symbolic consumption) and 阶层边界 (stratum boundary).

这种制度性的安排固化了既有的阶层格局。

This institutional arrangement has solidified the existing stratum pattern.

制度性安排 (institutional arrangement) and 阶层格局 (stratum pattern).

阶层焦虑已成为当代都市生活的一种底色。

Stratum anxiety has become a background color (defining feature) of contemporary urban life.

阶层焦虑 (stratum anxiety) used metaphorically with 底色 (background color).

我们应当警惕阶层固化所带来的社会撕裂风险。

We should be wary of the risk of social tearing (fragmentation) brought about by social stratification.

社会撕裂 (social tearing/rift).

资本的过度集中必然会导致阶层流动的停滞。

The excessive concentration of capital will inevitably lead to the stagnation of social mobility.

过度集中 (excessive concentration) and 停滞 (stagnation).

阶层话语在公共讨论中扮演着愈发复杂的角色。

Stratum discourse plays an increasingly complex role in public discussion.

阶层话语 (stratum discourse).

这种现象反映了阶层地位与政治参与之间的正相关性。

This phenomenon reflects a positive correlation between social stratum status and political participation.

正相关性 (positive correlation).

Synonyme

等级层面级别层级

Gegenteile

平等

Häufige Kollokationen

社会阶层

中产阶层

底层阶层

精英阶层

阶层流动

阶层固化

跨越阶层

阶层差距

工薪阶层

阶层意识

Häufige Phrasen

社会阶层化

— The process of society becoming divided into layers. It is often discussed in sociology.

社会阶层化是一个全球性的现象。

阶层分化

— The separation of people into different strata based on wealth or status.

经济危机加剧了社会的阶层分化。

富有阶层

— The wealthy stratum of society. Often used in marketing and economics.

富有阶层对艺术品投资非常感兴趣。

贫困阶层

— The impoverished stratum. Used in discussions of social welfare.

扶贫政策的主要对象是贫困阶层。

统治阶层

— The ruling stratum or elite who hold power.

在古代，统治阶层拥有绝对的权力。

知识阶层

— The intellectual stratum or the intelligentsia.

知识阶层在社会变革中起着引领作用。

管理阶层

— The management stratum within a company or organization.

公司管理阶层决定了企业的发展方向。

中间阶层

— The middle stratum, often synonymous with the middle class.

扩大中间阶层是社会稳定的基石。

阶层对立

— Conflict or opposition between different social strata.

不公平的分配会导致阶层对立。

阶层壁垒

— Barriers that prevent movement between social strata.

我们要打破阶层壁垒，让每个人都有机会。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

阶层 vs 阶级

阶级 is more political and Marxist; 阶层 is more social and economic.

阶层 vs 阶段

阶段 refers to a period of time or a step in a process, not a social group.

阶层 vs 层级

层级 usually refers to organizational hierarchy (like in a company).

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"门当户对"

— Families of equal social status matching for marriage. While not using the word '阶层', it's the classic idiom for stratum matching.

古人结婚讲究门当户对。

Traditional

"鱼跃龙门"

— A carp jumping over the dragon gate. Metaphor for someone from a low stratum achieving great success/moving up.

考上名牌大学对他来说就是鱼跃龙门。

Literary

"高人一等"

— To be a cut above others; to feel superior in status.

他总觉得自己高人一等，不愿和普通人交流。

Neutral

"布衣之交"

— Friendship between commoners (those from a lower stratum).

他们两人是布衣之交，感情非常深厚。

Literary

"非富即贵"

— Either rich or of high rank. Refers to people from the upper strata.

出入这个会所的人非富即贵。

Informal

"寒门学子"

— Students from poor families (low strata).

政府设立奖学金来资助寒门学子。

Formal

"平步青云"

— To rise rapidly in the world; to skyrocket up the social ladder.

他自从进了那家大公司就平步青云。

Literary

"人往高处走"

— People strive to move upward (to higher strata).

人往高处走，水往低处流，他想跳槽很正常。

Proverb

"达官显贵"

— High officials and noble lords (the top stratum).

宴会上到处都是达官显贵。

Formal

"三教九流"

— People from all walks of life/all strata (often with a slightly negative or chaotic nuance).

火车站这种地方，三教九流什么人都有。

Informal

Leicht verwechselbar

阶层 vs 阶级

Both mean 'class' or 'stratum'.

阶级 is used for political struggles and rigid social groups. 阶层 is a modern sociological term for socioeconomic layers.

资产阶级 (Bourgeoisie - political) vs. 富有阶层 (Wealthy stratum - social).

阶层 vs 阶段

Both start with '阶'.

阶段 is about time and progress. 阶层 is about social structure and layers.

项目的最后阶段 (The final stage of the project).

阶层 vs 等级

Both involve levels or ranks.

等级 refers to official ranks, grades of quality, or formal hierarchies. 阶层 is about groups in society.

军衔等级 (Military rank levels).

阶层 vs 层面

Both involve 'levels'.

层面 refers to abstract levels or aspects of a problem. 阶层 refers to groups of people.

在精神层面 (On a spiritual level).

阶层 vs 群体

Both refer to groups of people.

群体 is a neutral term for any group. 阶层 specifically implies a vertical social hierarchy.

弱势群体 (Vulnerable groups).

Satzmuster

A属于B阶层。

他属于工薪阶层。

通过...，他实现了阶层跨越。

通过努力工作，他实现了阶层跨越。

不同阶层之间存在...差距。

不同阶层之间存在巨大的贫富差距。

...是导致阶层固化的原因。

教育资源分配不均是导致阶层固化的原因。

针对...阶层，我们推出了...

针对中产阶层，我们推出了这款新车。

阶层的代际传递反映了...

阶层的代际传递反映了社会结构的稳定性。

...加剧了社会的阶层分化。

房价的飞涨加剧了社会的阶层分化。

在...背景下，阶层流动变得...

在经济下行背景下，阶层流动变得更加困难。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

阶级 (class)

阶段 (stage)

阶梯 (ladder/stairs)

层级 (hierarchy)

层面 (aspect/level)

Verben

分层 (to stratify)

分级 (to grade/rank)

Adjektive

层叠的 (layered)

等级森严的 (strictly hierarchical)

Verwandt

社会 (society)

结构 (structure)

流动 (mobility)

固化 (solidification)

跨越 (leap/cross)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in professional and intellectual circles.

Häufige Fehler

Using '阶级' for 'middle class'. → 中产阶层
While '中产阶级' is understood, '中产阶层' is the more common and neutral modern term.
Confusing '阶层' with '阶段'. → 那个阶段 (That stage)
You cannot say '那个阶层' to mean 'that period of time'. '阶层' is about people/groups.
Saying '一阶层' instead of '一个阶层'. → 一个阶层
Like most nouns, '阶层' requires a measure word (usually 个).
Using '阶层' for quality levels. → 等级
For the quality of a product or a hotel, use '等级' (grade) or '档次' (class/quality).
Mispronouncing '层' as 'chēng'. → céng
There is no 'h' sound. It is a sharp 'ts' sound followed by 'eng'.

Tipps

Use in Essays

When writing about social problems, use '阶层' to sound more academic and objective. It shows you understand social structures.

Global Context

Remember that '阶层' is often used to compare social structures between different countries in Chinese news.

Pair with '差距'

A very common phrase is '阶层差距' (stratum gap). Use it when discussing inequality.

Middle Class Anxiety

If you hear '中产阶层焦虑', it refers to the middle class's fear of losing their status and falling into a lower stratum.

Watch the 'C'

The 'c' in 'céng' is a 'ts' sound. Make sure to aspirate it (push air out) to distinguish it from a 'z' sound.

Class vs. Stratum

In a Marxist context, use '阶级'. In a modern sociological or economic context, use '阶层'.

Character Parts

The '层' character has '云' (cloud) at the bottom. Think of social layers reaching up to the clouds.

News Keywords

If you see '阶层' in a headline, the article is likely about income, education, or social policy.

Breaking Barriers

The phrase '打破阶层壁垒' is a positive, progressive term often used in political speeches.

Intergenerational

Learn '代际' (intergenerational) to discuss how '阶层' is passed from parents to children.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a tall building. 'Jie' (阶) are the stairs you climb to get to the next 'Ceng' (层), which is the floor. Each floor represents a social stratum.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a pyramid. The top point is the elite 阶层, the middle section is the 中产阶层, and the base is the 底层阶层.

Word Web

社会 (Society) 财富 (Wealth) 教育 (Education) 地位 (Status) 职业 (Profession) 收入 (Income) 家庭 (Family) 权力 (Power)

Herausforderung

Try to identify three different '阶层' in your own city and describe them using the Chinese words you've learned.

Wortherkunft

The word is a compound of two characters: 阶 (jiē) and 层 (céng). 阶 historically refers to stone steps or a flight of stairs. 层 refers to layers, floors of a building, or tiers.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Literally 'steps and layers'. It evolved from physical steps to metaphorical levels of social organization.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese).

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when discussing someone's 阶层 directly; it can be seen as elitist or offensive if not used in an analytical context.

In English, we often just say 'class'. In Chinese, '阶层' is more technical and less politically sensitive than '阶级'.

The 'Peasant Stratum' in Chinese history. The 'New Social Stratum' (新社会阶层) used in official CCP terminology. Sociologist Lu Xueyi's research on the 10 strata of Chinese society.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

News/Economics

扩大中产阶层
缩小阶层差距
阶层流动性下降
富有阶层的消费

Education

教育改变阶层
阶层固化的根源
寒门学子的压力
精英教育

Marketing

针对高端阶层
大众阶层市场
工薪阶层产品
特定阶层的需求

Sociology/Books

阶层结构分析
跨越阶层之难
社会阶层分化
阶层意识觉醒

Daily Conversation (Serious)

咱们这个阶层
不同的社会阶层
阶层之间的矛盾
为了跨越阶层

Gesprächseinstiege

"你认为教育真的能帮助人们实现阶层跨越吗？"

"在你的国家，中产阶层面临的主要压力是什么？"

"你觉得互联网是缩小了还是扩大了阶层差距？"

"如何看待所谓的“阶层固化”现象？"

"不同阶层的人在生活习惯上有什么明显的区别？"

Tagebuch-Impulse

描述你所处的社会阶层，以及这个阶层对你的价值观有什么影响。

写一段关于你为了改善自己的社会地位（或阶层）所做的努力。

分析一部反映社会阶层矛盾的电影（如《寄生虫》）。

如果你可以制定政策来促进阶层流动，你会怎么做？

讨论一下社交媒体是如何展示和强化阶层差异的。

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Not necessarily. While income is a major factor, '阶层' also includes education, job type, and social influence. For example, '知识阶层' (the intellectual stratum) might not be the wealthiest but has high social status.

It is a neutral, formal word. However, using it to label someone can sometimes feel cold or overly analytical, so it's best used in discussions about society rather than individuals.

They are often used interchangeably, but '中产阶层' is considered more modern and sociologically accurate in contemporary China, while '阶级' sounds more like old political terminology.

No, for game levels or stages, use '关卡' (guānkǎ) or '等级' (děngjí). '阶层' is strictly for social strata.

You say '阶层流动' (jiēcéng liúdòng). If you want to say 'moving up', you can say '阶层上升' (jiēcéng shàngshēng).

Similar, but '工薪阶层' literally means 'the salary-earning stratum', referring to anyone who lives on a monthly wage, including white-collar workers.

It means society has become 'stiff' or 'frozen', making it very hard for people to move from a lower social level to a higher one, regardless of how hard they work.

Yes, it is used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mainland China with the same general meaning, though specific social terms might vary slightly.

Usually no. For social hierarchies in animals, '等级' (děngjí) is more common, like '等级制度' (hierarchy).

In China, '新社会阶层' refers to people like private entrepreneurs, technical experts in foreign companies, and freelancers who emerged after the economic reforms.

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