低 means “low, short (height)”

ひくい · hikui

Also: lower, short, humble

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): ひくい, ひくめる, ひくまる
On'yomi (Chinese reading): テイ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

A person (亻) bending low (氐): crouching down to a lower position. In Japan, 低い (hikui) describes both physical height and humility. 低姿勢 (teishisei, low posture) means a humble attitude, highly valued in Japanese culture. 低気圧 (teikiatsu, low pressure) brings the rain that nourishes rice paddies.

Used in 低い (hikui, low), 最低 (saitei, minimum/worst), and 低温 (teion, low temperature)

Words with 低

最低 (さいてい, saitei): minimum / worst

Example sentences

この机は低いです。 This desk is low.
今日は気温が低いです。 The temperature is low today.

Kanji that look like 低

底 (bottom): 低 has 亻 (person) bending low; 底 has 广 (shelter): the bottom of a container

More from Measurement & Size

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