下 means “below, down”

した · shita

Also: descend, give

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

した, しも, もと, さげる, さがる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

カ, ゲ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 3 strokes

The story

The mirror of 上: a stroke hanging beneath the line, a finger pointing at the earth. From 地下 subways to the old shitamachi merchant quarters, Japan layers its world above and below.

Used in 地下鉄 (chikatetsu, subway), 下手 (heta, unskilled), and 廊下 (rouka, hallway)

Words with 下

• 上下 (じょうげ, jouge): up and down

More from Compass & Position

• 以 from
• 区 ward
• 北 north
• 所 place
• 西 west
• 南 south
• 図 map
• 右 right
• 左 left
• 中 inside
• 後 behind
• 前 front

Learn 下 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.