低い

• Reading: ひくい
• Romaji: hikui
• Kanji breakdown: 低 (hiku/tei) — low, short (height)
• Pronunciation: /çi.kɯ.i/

Meaning

Low. Describes low height, low temperature, low rank, or low degree.

An i-adjective used for things that are low in position or value: buildings, mountains, temperature, voice pitch, or social standing. For describing a person as short in height, Japanese uses 背が低い (se ga hikui). Conjugates regularly: 低くない, 低かった, 低くなかった.

Examples

1. このテーブルは低いです。 This table is low.
2. 今日は気温が低くて寒いです。 The temperature is low today and it's cold.
3. 声が低い人はかっこいいと思います。 I think people with deep voices are cool.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, descriptions, weather

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 低 combines the person radical 亻 with 氐 (bottom), indicating a person bending low.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal