Below and lowering with 下
下 means below , down , or lower . It describes position or movement beneath something and extends in compounds to lower rank, decline, and rejection.
Etymology
This kanji is an ideogram, with the short stroke written beneath a baseline to indicate what is below .
Clothing 下着 (Underwear)
下着(したぎ) means underwear or clothes worn beneath outer clothing.
It combines 下 (beneath ) with 着 (wear ) to show clothing worn underneath .
Grammar Explanation: Speaker's conviction with 〜た＋つもり (Future entry)
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 14While changing into her uniform, Rize hid in the closet when she sensed someone unfamiliar nearby. Cocoa, feeling as though she was being watched, opened the closet door.
ココア: 「下着(したぎ) 姿(すがた) の…ドロボーさん？」“A burglar… in their underwear?” リゼ: 「完全(かんぜん) に気配(けはい) を殺(ころ) してたつもりなのに」“I thought I completely suppressed my presence, and yet...” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does リゼ mean in the highlighted line? Clues 殺(ころ) してたつもり〜たつもり shows Rize's belief about what she had done What does the speaker mean? I thought I completely suppressed my presence, and yet... In 気配(けはい) を殺(ころ) してたつもり, Rize means she thought she had successfully hidden her presence. Rize says she intended to make her presence obvious to Cocoa. The highlighted form is 殺(ころ) してたつもり. Here 〜たつもり shows Rize's belief about what she had done, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Rize says she hid perfectly and Cocoa never found her. The highlighted form is 殺(ころ) してたつもり. Here 〜たつもり shows Rize's belief about what she had done, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Rize says Cocoa was the one hiding in the closet. The highlighted form is 殺(ころ) してたつもり. Here 〜たつもり shows Rize's belief about what she had done, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
〜たつもり shows Rize’s belief about what she had done. In 気配(けはい) を殺(ころ) してたつもり, Rize means she thought she had successfully hidden her presence.
View Full Example Levels 低下 (Decline)
低下(ていか) means a decline or drop in value, level, quality, or degree.
It combines 低 (low ) with 下 (down ) to show something going downward .
Kanji Explanation: Lowness and decline with 低 (Future entry)
よつばと！ » Volume 1 » Page 13Jumbo helps his friend Yousuke move into his new house. After unboxing things, Yousuke stops for a break.
葉介(ようすけ) :「なんか俺(おれ) 体力(たいりょく) 低下(ていか) 手(て) がふるふる…」“Man, I feel like my stamina is dropping... My hands are shaking...” ジャンボ: 「おまえさ 近所(きんじょ) にあいさつで配(くば) る粗品(そしな) とか用意(ようい) してるか？」“Hey, are you preparing any little gifts to hand out to your neighbors when you go around saying hello?” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What change does Yousuke notice after moving boxes? Clues 体力(たいりょく) 低下(ていか) してんなあhe feels that his stamina is declining 手(て) がふるふるhis trembling hands show the physical fatigue What does the speaker mean? His stamina has dropped and his hands are trembling. 体力(たいりょく) 低下(ていか) names the decline, and 手(て) がふるふる gives the physical sign he notices. His hands have become stronger from carrying boxes. The trembling supports a loss of stamina, not an increase in strength. His body temperature has fallen. 低下(ていか) modifies 体力(たいりょく) , stamina, rather than temperature. He has recovered enough to keep working without rest. Yousuke stops for a break and comments on declining stamina. He is not announcing a recovery. His neighbor is tired from preparing gifts. Yousuke speaks about 俺(おれ) , himself, before Jumbo changes the subject to neighbor gifts. His hands are shaking because the room is cold. The line links the trembling to physical exertion and reduced stamina, not cold weather.
Yousuke realizes that moving boxes has worn him out more than expected. He calls it a drop in stamina and points to his trembling hands as evidence.
View Full Example Movement 落下 (Fall)
落下(らっか) means a fall, drop, or descent. It is used for things physically coming down, such as rocks, rain, or a person falling from a height.
It combines 落 (fall ) with 下 (down ) to show something falling downward .
Grammar Explanation: Receptive verbs with 〜れる (Future entry)
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 100After learning the fortunes she told didn’t come true for Chino and Rize, Cocoa lists the bad fortune she ran into.
ココア: 「そっかー」“I see.”「私(わたし) あんこが落下(らっか) 金(かね) 投(な) げられたり色々(いろいろ) あって大変(たいへん) だったよー」“All sorts of things happened to me, like Anko falling on me, my skirt flipping up, and having Sharo-chan throw money at me, so it was rough.”「占(うらな) い勝負(しょうぶ) はティッピーの勝(か) ちだね」“Then Tippy wins the fortune-telling contest.” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
Which interpretation best matches the highlighted line? Clues 投(な) げられたり〜たり lists the things that happened to Cocoa What does the speaker mean? All sorts of things happened to me, like Anko falling on me, my skirt flipping up, and having Sharo-chan throw money at me, so it was rough. The line gives examples rather than a complete list. 投(な) げられたり presents Cocoa as affected by Syaro throwing money. Cocoa says she threw money at Syaro during the unlucky day. The highlighted form is 投(な) げられたり. Here 〜たり lists the things that happened to Cocoa, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Cocoa says Syaro caught money that someone else threw. The highlighted form is 投(な) げられたり. Here 〜たり lists the things that happened to Cocoa, so this choice does not match the Japanese. Cocoa says the money was a deliberate reward rather than part of her bad luck. The highlighted form is 投(な) げられたり. Here 〜たり lists the things that happened to Cocoa, so this choice does not match the Japanese.
〜たり lists the things that happened to Cocoa. The line gives examples rather than a complete list. 投(な) げられたり presents Cocoa as affected by Syaro throwing money.
View Full Example Places 廊下 (Hallway)
廊下(ろうか) means a corridor or hallway connecting rooms in a building.
It combines 廊 (covered passage ) with 下 (under ) to show a passage under a roof .
Kanji Explanation: Topics and assigned problems with 題 (Future entry)
あずまんが大王 » Volume 1年生 » Page 9Tomo stands from her desk and raises her hand.
とも: 「先生(せんせい) 宿題(しゅくだい) 忘(わす) れました！だから廊下(ろうか) 立(た) ちます！」“Teacher, I forgot my homework! So I'll stand in the hall!” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What consequence does Tomo announce for forgetting her homework? Clues 宿題(しゅくだい) 忘(わす) れましたI forgot the homework だから so or therefore 廊下(ろうか) に立(た) ちますI will stand in the hallway What does the speaker mean? She says she will stand in the hallway. だから links forgetting the homework to Tomo's announced response, 廊下(ろうか) に立(た) ちます. She says she will finish the homework in the hallway. 立(た) ちます means she will stand there. No action of completing homework appears. She asks the teacher to stand in the hallway. Tomo is the omitted subject of 立(た) ちます. She is announcing what she herself will do. She promises to bring the homework tomorrow. The line gives an immediate consequence, not a plan for the next day. She says the teacher forgot to assign homework. 先生(せんせい) is the person Tomo addresses. Tomo is the one who forgot the homework. She concludes that there was no homework. 宿題(しゅくだい) 忘(わす) れました assumes the homework existed and says Tomo forgot it.
Tomo reports that she forgot her homework and then uses だから to present standing in the hallway as the consequence.
View Full Example Status 部下 (Subordinate)
部下(ぶか) means a subordinate, someone who works under a superior in an organization or chain of command.
It combines 部 (section ) with 下 (lower ) to show someone lower in position .
Grammar Explanation: Previous experience with 〜た＋ことがある (Future entry)
ご注文はうさぎですか？ » Volume 1 » Page 69Cocoa thinks Rize is nervous about staying overnight with her and Chino.
リゼ: 「いや… 親父(おやじ) の部下(ぶか) 誘(さそ) われたワイルドなキャンプしか経験(けいけん) した事(こと) ないから…」“Well... I've only had the experience of those wild camping trips my dad's subordinates invited me on...”「こんなの初(はじ) めてで…」“I've never done anything like this before...” ココア: 「ワイルド？」“Wild?” Challenge Yourself Show translation
Challenge
What does リゼ mean in the highlighted line? Clues 経験(けいけん) した事(こと) ない〜た(事:こと)がある = have had the experience of... What does the speaker mean? Well... I've only had the experience of those wild camping trips my dad's subordinates invited me on... The highlighted pattern expresses past experience at least once. Rize says she often attends ordinary sleepovers with friends. The highlighted form is 経験(けいけん) した事(こと) ない. Here 〜た事(こと) がある = have had the experience of..., so this choice does not match the Japanese. Rize says she has never gone camping before. The highlighted form is 経験(けいけん) した事(こと) ない. Here 〜た事(こと) がある = have had the experience of..., so this choice does not match the Japanese. Rize says she invited her father's subordinates to stay at her home. The highlighted form is 経験(けいけん) した事(こと) ない. Here 〜た事(こと) がある = have had the experience of..., so this choice does not match the Japanese.
〜た事(こと) がある = have had the experience of…. The highlighted pattern expresses past experience at least once.
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