低龄 (dī líng) — (attributive) young (in age), low-age

Definition

Used attributively before a noun to mean 'young in age' (typically children). Note: in the example about aging populations, it refers to the average age getting younger, not actual children.

adjective
(attributive) young (in age)low-age

Examples

  • 低龄。
    Zhè suǒ xué xiào jiē shōu dī líng ér tóng.
    This school accepts young children.
  • 低龄。
    Jìn nián lái dī líng liú xué xiàn xiàng yuè lái yuè pǔ biàn.
    In recent years, the phenomenon of studying abroad at a young age has become more common.
  • 低龄。
    Rén kǒu dī líng huà qū shì zhí dé guān zhù.
    The trend of an aging population becoming younger (in average age) deserves attention.

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.

低dīlow
龄língage

低 (low) and 龄 (age) combine to mean a low age.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 齡; 龄 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
齒齒chǐtooth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng齡líng
Same sound today

The traditional form 齡 shows 齒, a tooth, associated with age, and 令 for the sound; simplified 龄 is a later shorthand.

Open 龄 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.