低 — Low, Short, Humble

Meaning

The kanji 低 (てい, ひく.い) expresses the concept of 'low,' 'short' (in height), or 'humble.' It describes physical attributes, such as a low ceiling or a short person, and also extends to abstract ideas like low quality, status, or price, as well as a low-pitched sound. Furthermore, it conveys a nuance of 'humble' or 'modest,' often implying a deliberate lowering of oneself or one's attitude.

Its visual composition provides a clear insight into its meaning. The left side is the radical 亻 (にんべん, ninben), commonly known as the 'person' radical. On the right is 氐 (テイ), meaning 'root,' 'base,' or 'to reach the bottom.' Historically, 氐 itself sometimes denoted 'low' in ancient Chinese. When these two parts combine, the 'person' radical 亻 and 氐 (representing 'base' or 'bottom') suggest a person who is low, at the bottom, or bending down. This beautifully illustrates the kanji's core meaning of 'low' or 'humble.'

For instance, imagine a person (亻) bowing down to the ground (氐), showing humility or physically lowering themselves. This etymological connection makes the kanji's meaning quite intuitive once its components are understood. 低 has 7 strokes and is taught in Grade 4 of elementary school in Japan. This makes it a fundamental character for expressing 'lowness' in various contexts.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The primary On'yomi reading for 低 is テイ (TEI). This reading commonly appears in compound words, especially those with a formal or academic tone. It often refers to scientific, economic, or abstract concepts of 'lowness.'

低下ていか (teika) — This compound means 'decline,' 'fall,' or 'drop.' It's often used to describe a decrease in value, quality, or a general standard.

例: 生活水準せいかつすいじゅんの低下ていか (seikatsu suijun no teika) — a decline in living standards.

低音ていおん (teion) — Meaning 'low pitch' or 'bass.' It refers to sounds that are deep or low in frequency.

例: 低音ていおんが響ひびく (teion ga hibiku) — the bass resounds.

最低さいてい (saitei) — This is a common and versatile word meaning 'lowest,' 'minimum,' or 'worst.' It combines 最 (さい, sai, meaning 'most' or 'extreme') with 低.

例: 最低気温さいていきおん (saitei kion) — the lowest temperature.

低気圧ていきあつ (teikiatsu) — Refers to 'low atmospheric pressure,' a term commonly heard in weather forecasts.

例: 低気圧ていきあつが接近中せっきんちゅう (teikiatsu ga sekkinchū) — a low-pressure system is approaching.

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The Kun'yomi readings are used when the kanji stands alone, often with okurigana (送り仮名), or in native Japanese words. The main Kun'yomi for 低 are ひく.い, ひく.める, and ひく.まる, all related to the concept of 'low.'

低いひくい (hikui) — This is an i-adjective meaning 'low' or 'short.' It describes the state of something being low in height, status, sound, or quality.

例: 背せが低いひくい (se ga hikui) — short (in height).

例: 声こえが低いひくい (koe ga hikui) — low-pitched voice.

低めるひくめる (hikumeru) — This is a transitive verb meaning 'to lower' or 'to diminish.' It describes the action of someone actively making something lower.

例: 音量おんりょうを低めるひくめる (onryō o hikumeru) — to lower the volume.

例: 姿勢しせいを低めるひくめる (shisei o hikumeru) — to lower one's posture (to be humble or cautious).

低まるひくまる (hikumaru) — This is an intransitive verb meaning 'to become low' or 'to drop.' It describes something itself becoming lower without an external agent.

例: 気温きおんが低まるひくまる (kion ga hikumaru) — the temperature drops.

例: 評価ひょうかが低まるひくまる (hyōka ga hikumaru) — one's evaluation becomes lower.

Common Words & Compounds

The kanji 低 is found in many everyday words and phrases, encompassing various aspects of 'lowness' in Japanese. Learning these compounds will greatly expand your vocabulary.

General Descriptions of 'Lowness':
低下ていか (teika) — decline, fall, drop (e.g., of quality, value, performance).
最低さいてい (saitei) — lowest, minimum, worst (e.g., minimum wage, worst score).
低価格ていかかく (teikakaku) — low price.
低水準ていすいじゅん (teisuijun) — low level, low standard.
低迷ていめい (teimei) — slump, sluggishness, stagnation (often used for economic conditions or public support).
Describing People and Actions:
低いひくい (hikui) — low, short (height), humble (e.g., 背せが低いひくい – short in stature).
低学年ていがくねん (teigakunen) — lower grades (of elementary school).
低姿勢ていしせい (teishisei) — humble attitude, low profile, conciliatory stance.
低頭ていとう (teitō) — bowing one's head low, showing deep respect or humility.
Scientific and Environmental Terms:
低気圧ていきあつ (teikiatsu) — low atmospheric pressure.
低音ていおん (teion) — low pitch, bass (in music or sound).
低地ていち (teichi) — low-lying land, lowland.
低カロリーていカロリー (tei karorii) — low calorie (a loanword compound).
低血糖ていけっとう (teikettō) — hypoglycemia, low blood sugar.
Verbs and Adjectives:
低めるひくめる (hikumeru) — to lower, to diminish (transitive verb).
低まるひくまる (hikumaru) — to become low, to drop (intransitive verb).

Example Sentences

彼かれの家いえの屋根やねはとても低ひくい。

Kare no ie no yane wa totemo hikui.

The roof of his house is very low.

私わたしは背せが低ひくいので、高たかいところの物ものが取とれません。

Watashi wa se ga hikui node, takai tokoro no mono ga toremasen.

Since I am short, I cannot reach things in high places.

経済けいざいの成長率せいちょうりつが低下ていかしている。

Keizai no seichōritsu ga teika shite iru.

The economic growth rate is declining.

この音おんは低音ていおんが強つよくて、とても迫力はくりょくがある。

Kono on wa teion ga tsuyokute, totemo hakuryoku ga aru.

This sound has strong bass and is very powerful.

彼かれは交渉こうしょうで低姿勢ていしせいをとり、相手あいての信頼しんらいを得えた。

Kare wa kōshō de teishisei o tori, aite no shinrai o eta.

He took a humble approach in negotiations and gained the other party's trust.

会議室かいぎしつの照明しょうめいを少すこし低ひくめてください。

Kaigishitsu no shōmei o sukoshi hikumete kudasai.

Please lower the lighting in the conference room a little.

今日きょうは一日中いちにちじゅう、低気圧ていきあつのせいで体調たいちょうが優すぐれない。

Kyō wa ichinichijū, teikiatsu no sei de taichō ga sugurenai.

My physical condition is not good all day today due to the low atmospheric pressure.

冬ふゆになり、気温きおんが急きゅうに低ひくまってきた。

Fuyu ni nari, kion ga kyū ni hikumatte kita.

It's winter, and the temperature has suddenly dropped.

そのお店おみせは常つねに低価格ていかかくで商品しょうひんを提供ていきょうしているので、とても人気にんきです。

Sono omise wa tsune ni teikakaku de shōhin o teikyō shite iru node, totemo ninki desu.

That store is very popular because it always offers products at low prices.

学生がくせいたちの環境問題かんきょうもんだいへの意識いしきが高たかいとは言いえず、まだ低ひくいのが現状げんじょうだ。

Gakuseitachi no kankyō mondai e no ishiki ga takai to wa iezu, mada hikui no ga genjō da.

It cannot be said that students' awareness of environmental issues is high; it is still low, which is the current situation.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

To remember the kanji 低, focus on its two main components. On the left is the 'person' radical (亻), representing a human. On the right is 氐, which visually suggests someone bowing their head or reaching down to the 'root' or 'base' of something. Imagine a person (亻) making themselves small or bowing down to the very bottom (氐). This powerful image directly connects to the meaning of 'low,' 'short,' or 'humble.' The 'person' radical is key, as it highlights how the kanji often relates to human attributes or interactions with 'lowness,' whether describing a short person, a low voice, or a humble attitude.