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階
floor · story · stairs · rank
N3On: かい
Memory Aid
The left component 阝 (often seen as the 'hill' or 'mound' radical) represents steps or a staircase. The right component 皆 (all, everyone) hints at the 'KAI' reading and can be imagined as people gathered on these steps or floors.
'Kai' — Imagine a 'guy' climbing the 'stairs' to the 'next floor'.
Vocabulary
一階いっかいfirst floor
二階にかいsecond floor
階段かいだんstairs
何階なんがいwhat floor?
三階さんがいthird floor
Example Sentences
このデパートは七階建てです。
This department store has seven floors.
お手洗いは二階にあります。
The restroom is on the second floor.
すみません、駅は何階ですか？
Excuse me, what floor is the station on?
階段を上って、上の階に行きましょう。
Let's go up the stairs to the upper floor.