Definition
低 (dī) has two uses: as an adjective it means 'low' — in height, price, temperature, level, etc. — but NOT for a person's height (use 矮 ǎi). As a verb it means 'to lower, droop' for head, voice, or eyes; for reducing prices/levels, the compound 降低 (jiàng dī) is preferred. Don't confuse with 垂 (chuí) 'to hang down', which is more literary.
adjective
low (in height, level, price, temperature, etc.)
verb
to lowerto droop (head, voice, eyes, etc.)
Easily confused
- 抵dǐlook-aliketo press against, prop up, support
- 地dìsound-alike(particle) structural particle for forming adverbials; -ly
- 底dǐlook-alikebottom, base, sole (of a container, shoe, or structure)
- 地dìsound-alike(noun) ground, land, floor (as a surface)
- 第dìsound-alike(prefix) used before a number to form ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.)
- 滴dīsound-alike(verb) to drip
- 递dìsound-aliketo hand over, to pass (something to someone), to deliver
- 堤dīsound-alikedike, embankment, levee
Examples
- 低。Zhège jiàgé hěn dī.This price is very low.
- 低。Tā shuōhuà de shēngyīn hěn dī.His speaking voice is very low.
- 。Tā dī xià le tóu.He lowered his head.
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