Translation and Meaning of: 低い - hikui

The Japanese word 「低い」 (hikui) is an adjective that means "low" or "inferior" in of height, position, or ranking. This word is often used in everyday Japanese to describe objects or situations that are at a lower level compared to something higher. For example, when talking about the height of a table or the pitch of someone's voice. The simplicity of the term makes it quite useful in different contexts.

In the etymology of 「低い」, the kanji 「低」 is composed of the radical 「亻」 which refers to "person" and part of the kanji 「氏」, indicating an idea of position or locality. This kanji suggests the image of something that is at a lower level in relation to the reference point, which aids in understanding its basic meaning. The word harmoniously combines with the pronunciation "hikui" from Japanese kun'yomi, which is a native reading used for Japanese adjectives and nouns.

The origin of the expression 「低い」 can be found in the need to describe and differentiate the location or status of objects and events over time in the Japanese language. With the development of the language, words that describe height and depth became essential. Related , such as 「高い」 (takai), meaning "high," and 「短い」 (mijikai), meaning "short," have similar functions and constructions, demonstrating the richness of the descriptive vocabulary in the Japanese language.

Variations and contextual uses of 「低い」 are common in the Japanese language. For example, in descriptions of landscapes, objects, physical characteristics, and even in figurative speech when referring to "low morality" or "low educational level." These different applications demonstrate the flexibility and range of the term in the language. Mastering adjectives like 「低い」 and their opposites is essential for accurately describing the world around us when learning Japanese.