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道Nihongo Path
下

下·below, down

On-yomi
カゲ
Kun-yomi
したさ.がるくだ.さい

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

3 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
下したbelow
下手へたunskilful
地下鉄ちかてつsubway
下りるおりるto go down, get off

Example sentences

  1. ねこはいすの下にいます。

    ねこはいすのしたにいます。

    The cat is under the chair.

  2. わたしは絵が下手です。

    わたしはえがへたです。

    I am bad at drawing.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 下手 as *したて instead of へた

Memory aid

Picture it

A mark hanging down under the ground line: down.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 下 mean?