HSK 4

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

这个桌子很低。
Zhège zhuōzi hěn dī.
This table is very low.
他的声音很低。
Tā de shēngyīn hěn dī.
His voice is very low.
价格很低,可以买。
Jiàgé hěn dī, kěyǐ mǎi.
The price is low, so you can buy it.
价格很低。
Jiàgé hěn dī.
The price is very low.
他个子低。
Tā gèzi dī.
He is short in height.

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine the character's left side 亻 (person radical) and right side 氐 (which historically relates to a foundation/base). Think of a person standing at a low base or foundation, representing a 'low' position.

📝 Usage Notes

It is neutral in register, used equally in both spoken and written Chinese across formal and informal contexts. Common contexts include describing physical height (e.g., 低桌子 - low table), levels/quantities (e.g., 低收入 - low income), sound (e.g., 低声 - low voice), quality (e.g., 效率低 - low efficiency), and status (e.g., 地位低 - low status).

📖 Grammar Points

It functions as a typical adjective: it can be modified by adverbs like 很 (very), 太 (too), 非常 (extremely) (e.g., 价格很低). It can be used in comparative structures like 比...低 (lower than...). It often forms compound words as the first element (e.g., 低收入) or follows verbs like 降 (to lower).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In social contexts, describing someone's 地位低 (low status) or 工资低 (low salary) can be sensitive. The phrase 低头 (to lower one's head) carries cultural nuance, symbolizing submission, apology, or deep thought.

🔄 Similar Words

矮 (ǎi) also means 'low/short', but is primarily used for the physical height of people or objects (e.g., 矮人, 矮墙). 低 (dī) has a broader application to levels, degrees, and abstract concepts (e.g., 低水平, 低声). For a person's height, 矮 is more common than 低.

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