Japanese word of the day: 階段 (Kaidan)

What does 階段 (Kaidan) mean?

階段 (Kaidan) (noun) – Stairs; staircase; steps. This word refers to the structure consisting of a series of steps that connect different floors or levels in a building. It’s a common and practical word used in daily life.

Kanji details for

Character: 階 (storey, stair, counter for storeys of a building)
Radical: mound, dam (阝 left) 阜 (阝)

Character: 段 (grade, steps, stairs)
Radical: weapon, lance 殳

Example sentences with 階段 (Kaidan)

• 階段を上がってください。
  (Kaidan o agatte kudasai.)
  ⬆️ Please go up the stairs.

• この建物にはエレベーターがなくて、階段を使います。
  (Kono tatemono ni wa erebētā ga nakute, kaidan o tsukaimasu.)
  🏢 This building has no elevator, so I use the stairs.

• 階段で転ばないように気をつけてください。
  (Kaidan de korobanai yō ni ki o tsukete kudasai.)
  ⚠️ Be careful not to fall on the stairs.

階段 (Kaidan) in context

階段 is a basic and essential word for navigating buildings and homes in Japan. You’ll use it when giving directions, describing your home, or talking about exercise routines. It’s also common in safety instructions and everyday conversation.

A quick tip: When talking about going up or down stairs, use 上がる (agaru) for going up and 下りる (oriru) for going down with 階段.

Whether you’re climbing to a new floor or just describing your surroundings, 階段 is the word for stairs in Japanese.