段階|だんかいdankai[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounstage; step; phase
   病気びょうきはまだ初期しょきの段階だんかいです。↗

   The disease is still in the primary stage.
2. nounlevel; rank; grade; gradation
3. nounorder
4. nounstairs

• SynonymランクNeutralLoanword for rank or ranking (「ランクアップ」); typical in ratings and comparisons.
• SynonymレベルNeutralLoanword for level or grade (「レベルが高い」); it centers on how high or low something is, while 「段階」 centers on a stretch of an ongoing process.
• Synonym程度ていどNeutralDegree or extent (「ある程度」); centers on how large, deep or strong something is.
• Synonym等級とうきゅうNeutralGrade or class (「一等級」); used for product grades and, in astronomy, stellar magnitude.
• SynonymフェーズNeutralLoanword for a phase, heard mostly in project management and IT (「次のフェーズ」); for the stages of a project this is the usual choice.
• RelatedレベルNeutralLoanword for level or grade (「レベルが高い」); it centers on how high or low something is, while 「段階」 centers on a stretch of an ongoing process.
• Related水準すいじゅんNeutralLevel or standard (「生活水準」); the focus is on the degree attained — how high something measures.
• Related階層かいそうNeutralSocial strata or a layered structure (「所得階層」); the focus is on upper-and-lower layering, while 「段階」 is about a stretch of a process.
• RelatedグレードNeutralLoanword for a grade or quality tier, used mostly with products and services.
• Related階級かいきゅうNeutralSocial class or military rank; centers on standing in a hierarchy of status.
• Related段位だんいNeutralDan ranks for skill in pursuits such as the martial arts and go (「段位を取る」); a specialized term, far narrower than 「段階」.
• Related位くらいNeutralCourt rank or social standing; also names places in numbers, as in 「十の位」 (the tens digit).
• Related格かくNeutralStatus or dignity (「格が違う」); the focus is on differences of caliber or tier.
• Related層そうNeutralLayer or stratum, of rock or of people (「若年層」「地層」); very often used as a suffix.

Use 「段階」 for stages in a developing process or for graded divisions (「最終段階」「五段階評価」). For project phases say 「フェーズ」; for levels of ability or standard, 「レベル」 and 「水準」; for degree or extent, 「程度」; for ranking, 「ランク」.

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

1. (だんかい) ある基準きじゅんによってわけられたときの等級とうきゅう、順序じゅんじょ。
2. (だんかい) 物事ものごとが発展はってん、進行しんこうしていく過程かていにおける一区いちく切きり。
3. (だんかい, きざはし, きだはし) 階段かいだん。