阶
jiē
rank or step
stairs
Mound/steps (阝) + sound (介) = stairs or rank
The 阝 radical here is its left-side form, derived from 阜, meaning a mound or earthen steps — the very image of ancient terraced terrain. 介 mainly lends the jiē sound; the mound radical carries the meaning of tiered ground.
他一步一步走上石阶，来到门前。
tā yī bù yī bù zǒu shàng shí jiē，lái dào mén qián。
He walked up the stone steps one step at a time and arrived at the door.
这座楼的台阶又窄又陡，老人走起来很不方便。
zhè zuò lóu de tái jiē yòu zhǎi yòu dǒu，lǎo rén zǒu qǐ lái hěn bù fāng biàn。
The stairs of this building are both narrow and steep, making it very inconvenient for elderly people to walk on.
Words with 阶
进身之阶
jìn shēn zhī jiē
stepping-stone to greater power or higher rank
进阶
jìn jiē
advanced
门阶
mén jiē
doorstep
阶乘
jiē chéng
the factorial of a number, e.g. 5! = 5.4.3.2.1 = 120
阶位
jiē wèi
order
阶地
jiē dì
terrace (geography)
阶层
jiē céng
social class
阶梯
jiē tī
flight of steps
阶梯教室
jiē tī jiào shì
lecture theater
阶梯计价
jiē tī jì jià
volumetric pricing
阶段
jiē duàn
stage
阶段性
jiē duàn xìng
specific to a particular stage (of a project etc)