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N5

Kanji 下: meanings, readings, and example words.

3 min read

Kanji 下: below, down, descend, give, low, inferior

Key takeaways

Kanji 下: below, down, descend, give, low, inferior. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N5

Meaning

belowdowndescendgivelowinferior

On reading

Kun reading

したしももとさ.げるさ.がるくだ.るくだ.りくだ.す-くだ.すくだ.さるお.ろすお.りる

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 下

below, down, descend, give, low, inferior

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

一 + 卜

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

This character indicates the direction 'below' by placing a mark (卜) under a horizontal line (一). Imagine an object positioned or descending beneath a surface to remember its meaning.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

  • 下位かい

    lower rank / subordinate / lower level

  • 下番かばん

    going off duty

  • 下吏かり

    lower official / subordinate clerk

  • 下痢げり

    diarrhea

  • 城下じょうか

    area near a castle

  • 引き下げるひきさげる

    to lower / to reduce / to withdraw

  • 部下ぶか

    subordinate / junior staff

  • ぶら下げるぶらさげる

    to hang / to dangle / to suspend

Kun reading

した
  • 上下うえした

    up and down / high and low / praise and blame

  • 下がるさがる

    to hang down / to fall / to step back

  • 下心したごころ

    hidden motive / secret intention

  • 下調べしたしらべ

    preliminary research / advance check

  • 下地したじ

    foundation / groundwork / basic skill

  • 下取りしたどり

    trade in / part exchange

  • 下火したび

    dying down / declining

  • 引き下げるひきさげる

    to lower / to reduce / to withdraw

Commonly used words

  • 下位
    かい

    lower rank / subordinate / lower level

  • 下番
    かばん

    going off duty

  • 下吏
    かり

    lower official / subordinate clerk

  • 下痢
    げり

    diarrhea

  • 城下
    じょうか

    area near a castle

  • 引き下げる
    ひきさげる

    to lower / to reduce / to withdraw

  • 上下
    うえした

    up and down / high and low / praise and blame

  • 下がる
    さがる

    to hang down / to fall / to step back

  • 下心
    したごころ

    hidden motive / secret intention

  • 下調べ
    したしらべ

    preliminary research / advance check

  • 下地
    したじ

    foundation / groundwork / basic skill

  • 下取り
    したどり

    trade in / part exchange

Example sentences

Example 1

階段を上に昇り降りした。

Translation

I went up and down the stairs.

Example 2

彼は上の評価を受けた。

Translation

He received both praise and blame.

Example 3

この商品は位モデルです。

Translation

This product is a lower model.

Example 4

位のクラスに割り当てられました。

Translation

I was assigned to a lower class.

Kanji 下: below, down, descend, give, low, inferior | Daily Nihongo