在下 (zài xià) — (humble pronoun) I, me (self-deprecating form, used in historical or literary contexts)

Definition

在下 is a humble, archaic first-person pronoun used by a speaker to lower themselves — typically of yourself in literary, historical, or martial-arts (武侠) contexts. It is not used in modern everyday speech.

pronoun
(humble pronoun) Ime (self-deprecating form, used in historical or literary contexts)

Examples

  • 在下，，。
    zài xià Xìng lǐ, míng míng, qǐng duō zhǐ jiào.
    My surname is Li, my given name Ming, please offer your guidance.
  • 在下，。
    zài xià Suī rán bù cái, dàn yuàn yì yí shì.
    Although I am untalented, I am willing to give it a try.
  • ，在下。
    Zhè wèi dà xiá, zài xià yǒu lǐ le.
    Esteemed hero, I greet you with respect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

在zàibe at
下xiàbelow

在 points to being somewhere and 下 to a lower place; as a humble self-reference it puts the speaker below.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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 →

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