堦 (jiē) - Step & stairs

堦Tone 1

jiē ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

健傑

堦 · jiē

Step;

stairs;

a series of steps or levels, often referring to stone or brick steps leading up to a building or terrace.

Stepstairsa series of steps or levels, often referring

Usage highlights

Stone stepsFront stepsStaircaseSteps and terracesJade stepsSteps of a hall

Synonyms

  • 阶— step; rank (simplified/common variant)
  • 台阶— steps; staircase
  • 阶梯— stairs; ladder

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He sat on the stone steps (石堦).
  • The temple has many levels of stairs (台阶).
  • Please wait for me on the front steps (前堦).
  • The garden path was made of stone steps (石堦小径).

Collocations

  • Stone steps(石堦)
  • Front steps(前堦)
  • Staircase(堦梯)
  • Steps and terraces(堦墀)
  • Jade steps(玉堦)
  • Steps of a hall(堂堦)

Idioms

  • Ascend the hall and mount the steps(升堂入堦)
  • Jade steps and golden palace(玉堦金殿)
  • Steps leading to the clouds(云堦月地)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese architecture, steps (堦) were an important architectural element, signifying status and order.
  • The number and material of steps often reflected the rank and importance of the building or its inhabitants.
  • The character appears in classical poetry and literature, evoking imagery of palaces, temples, and elegant estates.

FAQ