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低于 (dī yú) — to be lower than

Definition

Used to compare two things and say one is lower in level, value, or degree than the other — the opposite of 高于. 小于 is used mainly for numbers and quantities.

verb
to be lower than

Examples

  • 低于。
    Míng tiān de zuì dī qì wēn dī yú líng dù.
    The lowest temperature tomorrow is lower than zero degrees.
  • 低于。
    Zhè ge yuè de shōu rù dī yú shàng ge yuè.
    This month's income is lower than last month's.
  • 低于。
    Tā de chéng jì dī yú bān jí píng jūn shuǐ píng.
    His score is lower than the class average level.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

低dīlow
于yúsuffix

低 gives the sense of low, and 于 completes 低于.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénman, person
Sound part声符shēngfú
氐
氐dī低dī
Same sound today

In 低, the left side 亻 is a person, and the right side 氐 gives the sound; the image is a person lowering or bowing themselves.

Open 低 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4Comparison & Degree

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