階 層(かいそう)

かいそう

noun

layer; stratum; social class

1. social class; stratum

A level or rank within a social hierarchy. Used to discuss social stratification, economic classes, and demographic groups.

Social classes are becoming rigid.

Lifestyles differ depending on income class.

The gap has widened, and moving between social classes has become more difficult.

2. layer; tier; level

A level within a structured system, such as floors of a building, layers in computing, or tiers of an organization.

To organize data in a hierarchical structure.

Management is positioned in the upper tier of the organization.

This building is divided into multiple levels from two basement floors to 30 above-ground floors.

階層(かいそう) is used across many domains: sociology (社会(しゃかい)階層(かいそう)), computing (階層(かいそう)構造(こうぞう)), architecture, and organizational theory.

Several words share the reading かいそう but have different meanings:

general

Added 2026.3.2 16:43 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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