階級

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 階級, read かいきゅう, means a rank within an organization or a division of social class.
• Basic usage: It is used when a soldier rises in rank or when describing relationships between people of different social classes.
  • 昇進によって軍人としての階級が一つ上がった。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The meaning of class
  • English class in 社会階級 means social class; its use differs from クラス meaning a class of students at school.