ダン, タン

grade, steps, stairs

JLPT3 G6 S9 F479

The left-hand element# is drawn from the top part of (neatly aligned). adds action indicator → descend a (neatly aligned) staircase → *steps*; *stairs*; *stage* → *period*; *demarcation*; *rank*; *ranking*. Also, *method* (← descend steps in order) and *thing/matter* (← demarcation).

[Full Kanji Etymology List]