下
below · down · descend · give · low · inferior
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
one + 卜
Cultural Context
Etymology
Indicative character with a dot below a baseline. Opposite of '上' (above).
Symbolism
Humility, foundation, descending. Represents modest contribution as in 'unsung hero'.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Going down stairs
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
急転直下
きゅうてんちょっか
suddenly and precipitately; take a sudden turn; suddenly and precipitately
月下氷人
げっかひょうじん
go-between; matchmaker; Cupid; go-between
三日天下
みっかてんか
short-lived rule; being in power only for a brief period; brief championship; short-lived rule
天下一品
てんかいっぴん
beyond compare; peerless; unrivaled; beyond compare
天下無双
てんかむそう
peerless; unequaled; unequalled; peerless
臍下丹田
せいかたんでん
pit of the stomach; pit of the stomach
上意下達
じょういかたつ
conveying the will of the governing to the governed; top-down (system); conveying the will of the governing to the governed
下意上達
かいじょうたつ
conveyance of the views of those below to those at the top; conveyance of the views of those below to those at the top
地盤沈下
じばんちんか
land subsidence; decline in influence; land subsidence
天下泰平
てんかたいへい
peace throughout the world; carefree; peaceful; peace throughout the world
天下無敵
てんかむてき
peerless; unequalled; unequaled; peerless
天下御免
てんかごめん
licensed; chartered; officially allowed; licensed
貴賤上下
きせんしょうか
high and low; (people of) all ranks and classes; high and low
一上一下
いちじょういちげ
going up and down; going up and down
瓜田李下
かでんりか
be careful not to invite the least suspicion; leave no room for scandal; be careful not to invite the least suspicion
月下推敲
げっかすいこう
polish; elaboration; repeatedly working over one's writing; polish
天下多事
てんかたじ
eventful times for the nation (world); the nation (world) being in turmoil; the storm clouds gathering in the land; eventful times for the nation (world)
天下無類
てんかむるい
peerless (unparalleled, matchless, unequaled) in the country; peerless (unparalleled, matchless, unequaled) in the country
天上天下
てんじょうてんげ
the whole world; throughout heaven and earth; the whole world
李下瓜田
りかかでん
be careful not to invite the least suspicion; leave no room for scandal; be careful not to invite the least suspicion
下学上達
かがくじょうたつ
beginning one's studies with something familiar and gradually increasing the depth of learning; beginning one's studies with something familiar and gradually increasing the depth of learning
月下老人
げっかろうじん
go-between; matchmaker; go-between
脚下照顧
きゃっかしょうこ
look carefully where your own footsteps fall; seek enlightenment by knowing yourself and not by watching others; know thyself; look carefully where your own footsteps fall
Proverbs & Idioms
下手な鉄砲も数撃ちゃ当たる
へたなてっぽうもかずうちゃあたる
Even a poor marksman hits with enough shots
Keep trying and you will eventually succeed