Japanese word of the day: 低い (Hikui)

What does 低い (Hikui) mean?

低い (Hikui) (い-adjective) – Low; short; humble; inferior. This word is used to describe physical height or level that is below average or expected. It can also refer to low volume, low temperature, or a humble or modest attitude.

Kanji details for 低

Character: 低 — lower, short, humble
Radical: man, human 人 (亻)

Example sentences with 低い (Hikui)

• この建物はとても低いです。
  (Kono tatemono wa totemo hikui desu.)
  🏢 This building is very low.

• 彼の声は低いです。
  (Kare no koe wa hikui desu.)
  🎵 His voice is low-pitched.

• 気温が低いので、暖かくしてください。
  (Kion ga hikui node, atatakaku shite kudasai.)
  🌡️ The temperature is low, so please keep warm.

低い (Hikui) in context

低い is a common adjective used to describe anything that is physically low or below a certain standard. It’s often used for height, volume, temperature, or even abstract qualities like status or attitude. For example, “背が低い” (se ga hikui) means “short stature,” and “声が低い” (koe ga hikui) means “low voice.”

It’s also used to describe modesty or humility, such as in “低い姿勢” (hikui shisei), meaning a humble or modest posture or attitude.

A quick tip: When talking about something being short in length, you might use 短い (mijikai) instead, which specifically means short in length or duration.