If a system is hierarchical, it is built in levels. Some people or things sit above others: they have more power, more rank, or more importance. A company with a boss, then managers, then workers is hierarchical. Armies, schools, churches, and governments often work this way too.

If a system is hierarchical如果一個系統是hierarchical（層級式的） it它 is built in levels表示是分層建立的 Some people or things有些人或東西 sit above others地位在其他人或東西之上 they他們 have more power, more rank, or more importance擁有更多的權力、更高的位階，或更重要的地位 A company with a boss, then managers, then workers一間公司有老闆，然後是經理，然後是員工 is hierarchical這就是hierarchical Armies, schools, churches, and governments軍隊、學校、教會和政府 often work this way too也常常是這樣運作的

You will meet this word in more formal talk — offices, textbooks, news about organisations — not much in the playground.

You你 will meet this word會聽到這個字 in more formal talk在比較正式的場合 offices, textbooks, news about organisations辦公室、教科書、關於組織的新聞 not much in the playground操場上比較不會聽到

Though actually, people also use it for things that are not people: a hierarchical list of folders on a computer, or animals in a group with a top animal. The tidy idea is neat levels; real life is messier, and people still call a company hierarchical even when the levels are not as clear as the chart says.

Though actually不過其實 people人們 also use it for things that are not people也把它用在不是人的東西上 a hierarchical list of folders on a computer電腦裡的資料夾hierarchical list（層級式清單） or animals in a group with a top animal或是一群動物裡有一隻居首的動物 The tidy idea整齊的概念 is neat levels是清楚的層級 real life現實生活 is messier比較亂 even when就算 the levels層級 are not as clear as the chart says沒有圖表講的那麼清楚 people人們 still call a company hierarchical還是會說一間公司是hierarchical