超级
chāojí · HSK 3
super
🦸 超 = surpass/exceed + 级 = level/grade — beyond the normal level
超 means to surpass or go beyond, and 级 means a level or rank. Together 超级 literally reads as exceeding the level — i.e. super, top-tier. Same 超 appears in 超人 (superman) and 超过 (surpass).
超 — 走 (run) + 召 (summon, phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound: 走 'run' gives the meaning of moving past or going beyond, while 召 'summon' supplies the sound. The original sense was to leap or stride over something, which extended to 'surpass' and 'exceed'.
级 — silk radical 纟 + 及 jí (phonetic)
级 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The silk radical 纟 originally referred to threads or the steps/ranks of silk cords used to mark official grades. The right side 及 (jí) supplies the sound. Over time the meaning shifted from 'cord-marked rank' to general 'level, grade, class.'