階段を一段ずつ上った。
I went up the stairs one step at a time.
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.
The dictionary is on the upper shelf of the bookcase.
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.
His performance is on a different level from the other students'.
column of print
Used in printing and layout for columns of text, especially in compounds such as 二段組み.
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'.
I practiced the seven-times table again and again.
Formal or literary use in the pattern ...の段, especially in ceremonial or written greetings and notices.
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.
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.
This is not the time to be playing around.
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