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March 24, 2026
阶段(階段)jiēduàn(jie1duan4)
阶段 (jiēduàn) refers to a distinct stage, section, or phase in a process or development. It is commonly used in various contexts, such as education, project management, and personal growth, to indicate specific periods that have unique characteristics or goals.
Frequency#2825DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese education, the concept of 阶段 is often emphasized, with students progressing through distinct stages of learning, such as primary, middle, and high school, each with specific goals and expectations.
Memory Tip
Imagine climbing a staircase (阶) where each step (段) represents a different stage of your life. Each段 (duàn) is a unique phase, and the steps remind you to take one at a time to reach the top!
Meanings of 阶段
jiēduàn(jie1duan4)
1stage
2section
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 阶段
阶段Simplified
階段Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2825Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 阶段
Podcast: 阶段
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AI Study Notes for 阶段
Quick Contrast
阶段 (jiēduàn) vs 时期 (shíqī): Use 阶段 for specific phases within a process, while 时期 refers to broader periods of time.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine climbing a staircase (阶) where each step (段) represents a different stage of your life. Each段 (duàn) is a unique phase, and the steps remind you to take one at a time to reach the top!
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 阶段 with similar words like 时段 (shíduàn), which refers more to time periods rather than stages. This term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. Common collocations include 学习阶段 (xuéxí jiēduàn - learning stage) and 成长阶段 (chéngzhǎng jiēduàn - growth stage).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 阶段 connects to other words related to development and progress, such as 发展 (fāzhǎn - development) and 过程 (guòchéng - process). Focus on using it to describe various stages in your life or studies.
Cultural Note
In Chinese education, the concept of 阶段 is often emphasized, with students progressing through distinct stages of learning, such as primary, middle, and high school, each with specific goals and expectations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 阶段 with the word 期间 (qījiān), which refers to a period of time rather than a stage. For example, saying '在学习期间' (during the learning stage) would be incorrect; the correct phrase should be '在学习阶段' (during the learning stage).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 阶段
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Grammar Patterns of 阶段
阶段 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
接下来的几周将是适应____。
The next few weeks will be a period of readjustment.
The company has now gone into receivership with debts of several million.
Cultural Notes for 阶段
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese education, the concept of 阶段 is often emphasized, with students progressing through distinct stages of learning, such as primary, middle, and high school, each with specific goals and expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions about 阶段
Yes, 阶段 is commonly used in project management to describe different phases or sections of a project.
You can combine 阶段 with other nouns to specify the type of stage, such as 学习阶段 (learning stage) or 发展阶段 (development stage).
It is pronounced as jiē duàn, with the first syllable in the first tone and the second syllable in the fourth tone.
