段位(だんい)

だんい
noun
rank, dan grade
leisure
1. rank, dan grade
A ranking level in martial arts, board games like go or shogi, calligraphy, and other traditional Japanese disciplines. The dan system starts at 初段 (first dan) and goes up.
柔道(じゅうどう)の段位(だんい)を持(も)っている。
I hold a dan rank in judo.
段位(だんい)審査(しんさ)を受(う)けることにした。
I decided to take the dan promotion exam.
彼(かれ)は剣道(けんどう)三段(さんだん)の段位(だんい)を取得(しゅとく)した。
He earned a third-dan rank in kendo.

Usage: The 段位(だんい) system (dan ranking) is used across many Japanese disciplines including martial arts (柔道(じゅうどう), 剣道(けんどう), 空手(からて)), board games (囲碁(いご), 将棋(しょうぎ)), 書道(しょどう) (calligraphy), and 茶道(さどう) (tea ceremony).

Common collocations

Below the dan levels are 級(きゅう) (kyu) grades, which count downward (10th kyu being a beginner).

general
Added 2026.3.5 14:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
15000/15030_dani