阶 Strokes Write it Listen 阶 jiē stairs, steps; degree, rank HSK 4 6 strokes Radical 阝 Sound + meaning 5 words Built from阝meaningyìplace, town, city介soundjièagent, go-between, intermediary; to introduce; shell, armor How it works阝 hints at the meaning (hill), and 介 jiè hints at the sound.