noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
unranked; having no dan rank
Used in martial arts, go, shogi, and similar ranking systems to describe a practitioner who has not yet attained a dan (black-belt or equivalent) rank. Often contrasted with 有段者.
He is still unranked, but he is very strong.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
stepless; continuous
Technical term for mechanisms or controls that operate without discrete steps, such as a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a stepless volume control. Often used in engineering and product descriptions.
無段の部に出場する。
I will compete in the unranked division.
This car is equipped with a continuously variable transmission.
Stepless brightness adjustment is possible.
Compound of 無 (mu, 'without') and 段 (dan, 'step' or 'rank'). The martial-arts sense is a direct extension of the literal meaning 'without a dan rank'.