底下

• Pinyin: dǐ xia
• Hanzi breakdown: 底 (bottom) + 下 (below/under)

Meaning

Underneath; below; beneath. Refers to the space or area directly below something.

Used to describe physical position underneath an object. Can also be used figuratively to mean 'in private' or 'behind the scenes' in some contexts. More colloquial than 下面.

Examples

1. 猫躲在桌子底下不出来。 The cat is hiding under the table and won't come out.
2. 书包放在椅子底下了。 The schoolbag was placed under the chair.
3. 他在底下小声说了几句话。 He quietly said a few words down below.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, description

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 钥匙掉到沙发底下了。(The keys fell underneath the sofa.)
• 底下有什么东西？(What is underneath there?)

Don't Say

• 在山的底下 (For 'at the foot of a mountain' use 山下 or 山脚下 rather than 底下, which implies directly underneath)

Origin & History

Compound of 底 (bottom) and 下 (below, under), reinforcing the meaning of the area beneath something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal