What does 低 mean in Japanese?
低 means “low.” In daily Japanese it usually appears as 低い (hikui), the opposite of 高い (takai).
低い is used for a short person (背が低い), a low voice, and a low temperature.
Reading
On’yomi: テイ (tei)
Kun’yomi: ひく-い (hiku-i), ひく-める (hiku-meru), ひく-まる (hiku-maru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 低 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | low |
| Stroke Count | 7 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
低い covers many kinds of “low”: a low ceiling, a low voice, a low temperature, or a low score. 背が低い means a person is short. 最低 can mean “the lowest” or “the worst,” and 最低でも means “at least.”
Common Words
- 低い（ひくい / hikui） — low; short (of a person)
- 低め（ひくめ / hikume） — on the low side, slightly low
- 最低（さいてい / saitei） — lowest, minimum; worst
- 低下（ていか / teika） — decline, drop
- 低温（ていおん / teion） — low temperature
- 高低（こうてい / koutei） — high and low; difference in height or pitch
Example Sentences
-
私は兄より背が低いです。
わたしはあによりせがひくいです。 / Watashi wa ani yori se ga hikui desu.
I’m shorter than my older brother.
-
今朝は気温が低かったです。
けさはきおんがひくかったです。 / Kesa wa kion ga hikukatta desu.
The temperature was low this morning.
-
最低でも一時間はかかります。
さいていでもいちじかんはかかります。 / Saitei demo ichijikan wa kakarimasu.
It will take at least an hour.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
For a cheap item, say 安い商品. With 価格 (price) as the subject, 価格が低い (the price is low) is also possible. 低下 and 低温 sound more formal and often appear in news and weather reports. 低温 and 低音 (low-pitched sound) are both read ていおん.
Summary
Use 低い for low height, level, sound, or temperature, and 最低でも when you mean “at least.”
Want to study more JLPT N4 kanji by theme? See our JLPT N4 Kanji Study List.