gaai1 cang4階層阶层
Jyutpinggaai1 cang4
Yalegāai chàhng
Definition
A social class or stratum; a division of people based on economic, cultural, or political status.
neutralpeople
How it's used
Refers specifically to hierarchical divisions within a society based on status, wealth, or power. While it functions as a formal noun, it is frequently paired with adjectives like 基層 or 中產 to describe specific segments of the population. It carries a more analytical or sociological tone compared to everyday terms for people or groups.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
They come from different social strata.
Does this policy actually help the grassroots class?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 級別, which refers more to ranks or levels in a system or hierarchy, whereas 階層 is reserved for broader social or economic strata.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
