下风 (xià fēng) — (noun) leeward side; downwind direction; (noun) disadvantageous position; unfavorable situation
Definition
A figurative noun meaning 'disadvantageous position' — used mainly in the set phrase 处于下风 / 占下风 ('to be at a disadvantage', e.g. in a debate or competition). The literal 'leeward / downwind' sense is rare in modern usage.
noun
leeward sidedownwind directiondisadvantageous positionunfavorable situation
Examples
- ,下风。Fān chuán yào tiáo zhěng fāng xiàng, bì miǎn chǔ yú xià fēng wèi zhì.The sailboat needs to adjust direction to avoid being in a leeward position.
- ,下风。Zài zhè chǎng biàn lùn zhōng, tā míng xiǎn chǔ yú xià fēng.In this debate, he is clearly at a disadvantage.
- 下风,。Gōng sī yì zhí zhàn xià fēng, hěn nán yǔ duì shǒu jìng zhēng.The company has been at a disadvantage all along and finds it hard to compete with its rivals.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.