层

層
céng
HSK 3
#698 most
frequent character
layer, stratum, laminated
noun
Measure Word

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

层 first meant 'multistory building'. 尸 now stands for older 戶 door, which suggested a building or place. 云 stands for older 曾 céng, which supplied the sound. The sense grew to 'story, floor' and 'layer, tier'.

Drawn as: door

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Example Sentences

这座建筑有五层。
zhè zuò jiànzhù yǒu wǔcéng 。
This building has five floors.
我们需要再加一层保护。
wǒmen xūyào zài jiā yīcéng bǎohù 。
We need to add another layer of protection.
这个蛋糕有三层。
zhègè dàngāo yǒu sāncéng 。
This cake has three layers.

Words with similar meanings

层次céngcì
level
More focused on the concept of levels or stages, often used in a broader sense.
楼lóu
floor
Specifically refers to a level in a building, more commonly used in architectural contexts.

Homophones

曾céng
once, already, ever (in the past)

Words Starting With 层

层出不穷céng chū bù qióng
more and more emerge; innumerable succession; breeding like flies (idiom)
层次céng cì
arrangement of ideas; administrative level; level; stage; phase

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Public Lists with 层

Measure Words
Commonly used measure words (个, 张, 本, etc.) across various contexts.
House, Home & Living
Rooms, household items, renting, owning, basic utilities, neighborhoods.
HSK 3
All words for the HSK 3 test
City Infrastructure
Buildings, roads, public facilities, urban planning, neighborhoods.