下
xià
under
At a glance · 下

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

下 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 下 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 下 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 下 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 下 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 下 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

「下」甲骨文以一长画之下加短画指事,金文小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

下 Object sketch

Origins & notes

「下」本义为下面、低处,引申在下者、下去。

Structure

指事字,于长画下方着点画表下方,本为上下之下。

At a glance

Pinyinxià
Radical一
Strokes3
UnicodeU+4E0B
Character type指事
Theme数术

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English under under, underneath, below; down; inferior; bring down
Français bas / inférieur Bas, inférieur. «上和下睦» : ceux du dessous.
Español bajo / inferior Bajo, inferior. «上和下睦»: los de abajo.
العربية أسفل / دون أسفل، دون. «上和下睦»: من في الأسفل.
Русский нижний / низший Нижний, низший. «上和下睦»: те, что внизу.

Common words

  • 下面xià miànbelow
  • 下雨xià yǔrain