下位 (xià wèi) — lower position, subordinate position | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary/formal term for a 'subordinate or lower-ranking position' (e.g., in an organization or hierarchy). Used in writing or analysis rather than everyday speech.

adjective

lower positionsubordinate position

Examples

下位，。
Tā zài gōng sī chǔ yú xià wèi, dàn hěn yǒu néng lì.
He is in a subordinate position at the company, but very capable.
下位。
xià wèi De qí zǐ xū yào gèng jiā jǐn shèn dì zǒu.
The inferior piece needs to be moved more cautiously.
，下位。
Zài zhí chǎng zhōng, xià wèi de wèi zhì wǎng wǎng bú bèi zhòng shì.
In the workplace, lower positions are often not valued.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

位wèiposition

“下” (lower) and “位” (position) combine to mean a subordinate position.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

立lì位wèi

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

位 combines 人 (man), related to people, with 立, which gives the sound. It was often simply written as 立.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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