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下面 (xià miàn) — below; under; next; the following (in text or order)

Definition

Use 下面 for both physical position ('below, under') and to mean 'the following' in speech or text. Below pairs with 上面 for space; 以上 is the more formal written equivalent.

noun
belowundernextthe following (in text or order)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 下面。
    Wǒ de shū zài zhuō zi xià miàn.
    My book is under the table.
  • 下面，。
    xià miàn, Qǐng xiě nǐ de míng zì.
    Next, please write your name.
  • 。
    Shān xià miàn yǒu yì tiáo hé.
    Below the mountain there is a river.

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.

下xiàlower
面miànside

下 gives the lower position and 面 the side, yielding the sense of the side below.

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.

Open 下 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →
Appears in
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