进身之阶

stepping-stone to greater power or higher rank

to go forward / to advance / to go in / to enter / to put in / to submit / to take in / to admit / (math.) base of a number system / classifier for sections in a building or residential compound

(possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的[de5]) / him / her / it

body / life / oneself / personally / one's morality and conduct / the main part of a structure or body / pregnant / classifier for sets of clothes: suit, twinset / Kangxi radical 158

variant of 階|阶[jie1]

rank or step / stairs

to get oneself promoted to a higher rank