顶级
dǐng jí · HSK 7
top-notch
🏆 DING the top + JI the level = top-level, first-rate
顶 means top or peak, 级 means level or grade. Together they literally say top-grade. Think of a bell going DING when you reach the highest level.
顶 — 页 (head) + 丁 (phonetic)
顶 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The 页 component, originally a pictograph of a head, gives the meaning — the top of the head, hence 'top' or 'peak.' The 丁 component supplies the sound (dīng → dǐng). It later extended to verbs like 'support from below' or 'carry on the head.'
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.'