Usage note
层用于描述建筑物中的楼层或物体的层次。
céng yòng wù xǔ miáo huì jiàn zào wú zhōng de lóu céng huò wù tǐ de céng céng.
Layer is used to describe the floors in buildings or layers of objects.
Context note
层常见于描述建筑物的结构，如‘这栋楼有三层’或日常用品的层次，如‘这本书有五层封面。'
céng jìng cháng yú miáo huì jiàn zào wú zhōng de gòu jié rú ‘zhè dòng lóu yǒu sān céng lóu céng’ huò dà rì yòng pǐn de céng céng, rú ‘zhè běn shū yǒu wǔ céng fēi miàn。'
Layer is commonly used to describe the structure of buildings, such as 'This building has three floors', or layers in daily items, such as 'This book has five covers.'
5 examples
这栋楼有三层。
zhè dòng lóu yǒu sān céng。
This building has three floors.
这本书有五层封面。
zhè běn shū yǒu wǔ céng fēng miàn。
This book has five cover layers.
蛋糕有很多层次。
dàn gāo yǒu hěn duō céng cì。
The cake has many layers.
地球有多个地层。
dì qiú yǒu duō gè dì céng。
The Earth has multiple layers.
这幅画分三层。
zhè fú huà fēn sān céng。
This painting is divided into three layers.
5 mini stories
小明住在一栋楼的第三层。他喜欢从窗户看外面的风景。
xiǎo míng zhù zài yí dòng lóu de dì sān céng。 tā xǐ huan cóng chuāng hù kàn wài miàn de fēng jǐng。
Xiaoming lives on the third floor of a building. He likes to look at the scenery outside from the window.
妈妈给小华买了一本书，里面有五层封面。他很高兴地打开书。
mā ma gěi xiǎo huá mǎi le yì běn shū， lǐ miàn yǒu wǔ céng fēng miàn。 tā hěn gāo xìng dì dǎ kāi shū。
Mom bought a book for Xiaohua with five cover layers. He was very happy to open the book.
小红画了一幅三层的蛋糕，每一层都不同。
xiǎo hóng huà le yì fú sān céng de dàn gāo， měi yì céng dōu bù tóng。
Xiaohong drew a three-layer cake. Each layer is different.
地球的内部有很多地层，科学家们正在研究它们。
dì qiú de nèi bù yǒu hěn duō dì céng， kē xué jiā men zhèng zài yán jiū tā men。
There are many layers inside the Earth. Scientists are studying them.
这幅画的每一层都不同，非常有趣。
zhè fú huà de měi yì céng dōu bù tóng， fēi cháng yǒu qù。
Each layer of this painting is different. It's very interesting.
Mini dialogue
找书
A
你的书在书架的哪一层？
Nǐ de shū zài shūjià de nǎ yī céng?
Which layer of the bookshelf is your book on?
B
在第三层，那本蓝色的。
Zài dì sān céng, nà běn lán sè de.
On the third layer, the blue one.
蛋糕
A
这个蛋糕有两层，真高！
Zhège dàngāo yǒu liǎng céng, zhēn gāo!
This cake has two layers, so tall!
B
上面一层有草莓。
Shàngmiàn yī céng yǒu cǎoméi.
The top layer has strawberries.
Related words and contrasts
related
楼
lóu
floor; storey
Used for floors of a building, e.g., 三楼 (third floor).
similar
级
jí
level; grade
A step or level in a system, like a grade in school.
contrast
排
pái
row; line
A horizontal row, while 层 is a vertical layer.