How to say "stairs" in Japanese

• 階段かいだんJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe common word for a staircase, stairway, or flight of stairs, indoors or out; for 'stairs' in ordinary contexts, this is the word to reach for.
  その階段かいだんを上のぼってはいけません。↗

  You must not go up the stairs.
• 階かいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThis is really the word for a floor or storey of a building; it is seldom the word you want for 'stairs' — for a staircase, use 階段.
• だんだんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounSteps or stairs seen as a succession of individual treads, and also terraced formations; for an ordinary built staircase, 階段 is the common word.
• はしごJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounReally the word for a ladder rather than a staircase, so it is seldom the right choice for 'stairs' — use 階段; it is usually written in kana alone.

For an ordinary staircase, 階段 is the word; 「だんだん」 covers steps and terraced, tiered formations; 階 is really the word for floors and storeys, and 「はしご」 is really a ladder, so neither usually translates 'stairs'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 階段かいだんstairs
• 階きざはしstairs
• 階梯かいていstairs
• 踏み段ふみだんstep
• 階かいstairs
• だんだんsteps
• はしごstairs
• 段階だんかいstairs