层 meaning and stroke order
To pile on top of one another; layer; stratum; floor (of a building); story
How to write 层, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 层
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to pile on top of one another
- layer; stratum
- floor (of a building); story
- (math.) sheaf
- classifier for layers
How 层 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Simplified form of 層; 曾 provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 尸 (body), shared by 40 characters on this site.
How to remember 层
层 is made of 尸 on top and 云 (yún, cloud) tucked underneath. Picture a tall building whose roof (尸) rises floor after floor until it reaches the clouds (云).
层 (céng) is used for floors of a building and as a classifier for layers, like a layer of dust or a level of meaning. It also appears in abstract words such as 层次 (céngcì) and 阶层 (jiēcéng). Example: 我住在五层。(Wǒ zhù zài wǔ céng.) I live on the fifth floor.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 层 (céng) with 曾 (céng), which shares the same sound and means "once, ever" as in 曾经 (céngjīng). Also do not confuse 层 with 屋 (wū, room), which has the same 尸 top but a different part underneath.
Common words with 层
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 层次 | céngcì | layer; level | HSK 5 |
| 高层 | gāocéng | high-rise; high level; high class | HSK 6 |
| 层面 | céngmiàn | aspect; facet; level (political, psychological, spiritual etc) | HSK 6 |
| 底层 | dǐcéng | ground floor; first floor; lowest level; lowest rung (of society etc) | HSK 7-9 |
| 阶层 | jiēcéng | social class | HSK 7-9 |
| 基层 | jīcéng | basic level; grassroots unit | HSK 7-9 |
| 层出不穷 | céngchū-bùqióng | more and more emerge; innumerable succession | HSK 7-9 |
| 一层 | yīcéng | one layer; one level | |
| 大气层 | dàqìcéng | (meteorology) the atmosphere; atmospheric layer | |
| 楼层 | lóucéng | floor; story (of a building) | |
| 双层 | shuāngcéng | double tier; double decker | |
| 顶层 | dǐngcéng | top floor; the top of a building | |
| 上层 | shàngcéng | upper layer | |
| 云层 | yúncéng | the clouds; cloud layer |
层 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 层
How many strokes are in 层?
层 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 层 mean?
层 (céng) means to pile on top of one another; layer; stratum; floor (of a building); story. A common word with it is 层次 (céngcì), meaning "layer; level".
How do you pronounce 层?
层 is pronounced céng, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 层?
The radical of 层 is 尸, which carries the idea of "body". Dictionaries list 层 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 层?
The traditional form of 层 is 層. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 层 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 层 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 层 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What is the difference between 层 and 楼 for floors?
Both can mean a floor, as in 三层 or 三楼. 楼 (lóu) also means the building itself, while 层 focuses on the level and works as a classifier, so you say 这栋楼有二十层 (this building has twenty floors).
Can 层 be used for things other than buildings?
Yes. It counts layers of anything flat or stacked, such as 一层纸 (a layer of paper) or 一层雪 (a layer of snow). It is also used for abstract levels, as in 更深一层的意思 (a deeper level of meaning).