Meaning
段 groups together a surprisingly broad range of ideas — physical steps, abstract ranks, written paragraphs, even price. What ties them together is the notion of a distinct, ordered division: something set apart from what comes above and below it.
The character itself shows this visually. The left side suggests a tiered or stepped form — stone steps, terraced fields. The right side is 殳 (ほこづくり), an ancient tool for striking and cutting. Together they evoke the act of dividing something into clear, ordered sections, the way a stonemason chisels steps into a cliff face.
Nine strokes. Sixth-grade elementary school in Japan. Despite being learned relatively late, 段 turns up everywhere — staircases (階段), project phases (段階), judo rankings (三段), and the price tag on your groceries (値段).
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
段 has two on'yomi: ダン and タン. In practice, ダン does nearly all the work.
ダン — The everyday reading. Staircases, prices, project stages, martial arts ranks — ダン covers them all.
- 段階 (dankai) — stage, phase, step (in a process)
- 手段 (shudan) — means, method, measure
- 値段 (nedan) — price, cost
- 初段 (shodan) — first dan (beginner rank in martial arts)
- 段落 (danraku) — paragraph (in writing)
タン — Rare, appearing only in archaic or literary compounds. Safe to skip for now; just know it exists.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
段 has no standard kun'yomi in modern Japanese. It almost always appears with the ダン reading, especially in compound words. When counting steps or ranks, 段 (だん) is used directly. This makes it one of the easier kanji to read — there is essentially one reading to learn.
Common Words & Compounds
段 shows up across a wide range of domains. The compounds below cover physical spaces, processes, prices, and writing — all essential at the N3 level.
Everyday & Physical
- 階段 (kaidan) — staircase, stairs
- 段差 (dansa) — level difference, curb height (e.g., the drop between sidewalk and road)
- 段ボール (danbōru) — cardboard (corrugated board)
Process & Method
- 段階 (dankai) — stage, step, phase
- 手段 (shudan) — means, method
- 一段と (ichidanto) — even more, to a greater degree
- 格段に (kakudan ni) — remarkably, by far
Rank & Grade
- 初段 (shodan) — first dan, beginner rank (in martial arts, Go, shogi)
- 二段 (nidan) — second dan rank
- 上段 (jōdan) — upper level, upper tier
- 下段 (gedan) — lower level, lower tier
Writing & Text
- 段落 (danraku) — paragraph
- 文段 (bundan) — sentence/paragraph division (literary term)
Price
- 値段 (nedan) — price, cost
- 値段交渉 (nedan kōshō) — price negotiation
Daily Life
- 普段 (fudan) — usually, ordinarily, everyday
- 普段着 (fudangi) — everyday clothes, casual wear
Example Sentences
階段を上るのが好きです。
Kaidan wo noboru no ga suki desu.
I like taking the stairs.
このりんごの値段はいくらですか。
Kono ringo no nedan wa ikura desu ka.
How much do these apples cost?
普段は電車で通っています。
Fudan wa densha de kayotte imasu.
I usually commute by train.
プロジェクトは次の段階に進みました。
Purojekuto wa tsugi no dankai ni susumimashita.
The project moved on to the next phase.
あの選手は柔道の三段を持っています。
Ano senshu wa jūdō no sandan wo motte imasu.
That athlete holds a third dan in judo.
手段を選ばないやり方はよくない。
Shudan wo erabanai yarikata wa yokunai.
Using any means necessary is not a good approach.
この文章の最初の段落をもう一度読んでください。
Kono bunshō no saisho no danraku wo mō ichido yonde kudasai.
Please read the first paragraph of this text again.
格段に上手になりましたね。
Kakudan ni jōzu ni narimashita ne.
You've improved remarkably, haven't you.
歩道の段差に気をつけてください。
Hodō no dansa ni ki wo tsukete kudasai.
Watch out for the curb on the sidewalk.
Memory Tip
Picture a staircase carved into a cliff. Each step is a 段. Spot the radical 殳 on the right — an ancient cutting tool. The left side echoes a rough tiered shape, like stone steps hewn from rock. A craftsman uses a chisel (殳) to carve level after level (段) into the earth. Steps, ranks, paragraphs, divisions — all things cut and ordered, one above the other.