階段を一段ずつ上った。
I went up the stairs one step at a time.
はしごの段に足をかけた。
He put his foot on a rung of the ladder.
A horizontal level in something arranged in layers, such as shelves, tiers, stacked food, or displays.
辞書は本棚の上の段にあります。
The dictionary is on the upper shelf of the bookcase.
三段のケーキがテーブルに置かれていた。
A three-tiered cake was on the table.
An abstract level or class, often in comparisons such as 段が違う, meaning someone or something is on a different level.
彼の演奏は他の学生とは段が違う。
His performance is on a different level from the other students'.
paragraph; passage; division in writing or speech
As a noun, a paragraph or passage; as a counter, it can count breaks or divisions in written language or speech.
次の段を読んで、質問に答えなさい。
Read the next paragraph and answer the questions.
スピーチを三段に分けて話した。
She divided the speech into three parts.
column of print
Used in printing and layout for columns of text, especially in compounds such as 二段組み.
この雑誌は本文が二段組みになっている。
The main text of this magazine is set in two columns.
row of the multiplication table; times-table row
Used for a row in the Japanese multiplication table, as in 九九の五の段, 'the five-times table'.
九九の七の段を何度も練習した。
I practiced the seven-times table again and again.
stage; phase; occasion; moment
A stage or point reached in a process or situation, often in expressions such as 実行の段に入る or という段になって.
計画はいよいよ実行の段に入った。
The plan has finally entered the implementation stage.
出発という段になって雨が降り出した。
Just when we were about to leave, it started raining.
Formal or literary use in the pattern ...の段, especially in ceremonial or written greetings and notices.
このたびご栄転の段、心よりお祝い申し上げます。
On the occasion of your promotion, I offer my heartfelt congratulations.
Limited mainly to fixed negative expressions such as ...どころの段ではない and ...という段じゃない, meaning that the matter is far beyond that degree or not the time for that.
今は冗談を言っている段じゃない。
This is no time for joking.
I missed a step on the stairs and fell.
I lined up books on a three-tier shelf.
His piano skill is on a totally different level from mine.
He holds a third-dan rank in judo.
I can't seem to memorize the seven-times table.
When it came time to actually carry it out, I suddenly felt anxious.
今は遊んでいるという段ではない。
This is not the time to be playing around.
断 is a same-sounding but unrelated word meaning 'to cut off' or 'decision', not connected to steps or levels like 段.
段 (だん) means a step or stair and is often confused with 壇 (だん) because they share the same reading, but 壇 refers to a raised platform, not a stair.
段 (だん) means a step, level, or paragraph, and is easily confused with 団 (だん) purely by sound since the meanings are unrelated.
談 (だん, 'talk') and 段 (だん, 'step, level') are pronounced identically but refer to completely unrelated concepts, so context and kanji must distinguish them.
段 describes a step, tier, or rank in a vertical sequence, while 層 emphasizes a flat, horizontal layer or stratum.
means; way; method
stairs; stairway; staircase
gradually; little by little; more and more · steps; stairs; staircase; terrace
corrugated cardboard; cardboard box
dramatic; remarkable; marked · far better; exceptional
difference in grades; rank difference · difference in level; step; bump
lower tier; lower step; lower berth; bottom shelf · low stance (in kendo, etc.)
upper tier; upper section; upper row · place of honor; seat of honor · dais; raised floor section · overhead position (sword in kendo)
plan; arrangement; program; schedule of steps
paragraph · end; stopping place; conclusion
even more; much more; further · one step; one level; one rank · one paragraph; one passage · ichidan verb; ichidan conjugation
reach a stopping point; settle down for the moment; complete a first stage · one paragraph
dan rank; advanced rank; black belt grade
special; exceptional; unusual · especially; particularly; exceptionally
on a completely different level; far superior; worlds apart · of different heights; uneven
halfway up a slope or stairs; landing · center column (of three) · middle guard (kendo)
particular; special; separate · (not) particularly; (not) especially
preceding paragraph; first part
first dan; lowest black-belt rank; shodan
multistage; cascade
stone steps; stone stairway
figuring out a way; devising a plan; working out how to do something · contriving to raise money; managing to get funds
latter part; second part; subsequent section
promotion to a higher dan rank
terrace; bench
whole page; entire column
highly ranked; high rank