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What is the Kanji for 'Down'? | 下

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Down', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Down' is 下.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Down

    Reading

    kunyomiした

    shita

    くだ

    kuda

    onyomi

    ge

    ka

    Parts

    One Divination

    Example Word

    下す: decide. The Japanese verb '下す (くだす)' primarily means 'to decide' or 'to make a decision'. It is often used in formal or authoritative contexts, such as when a judge makes a ruling or when a leader makes an important decision. For example: The judge decided the case「裁判官は判決を下した」(さいばんかんははんけつをくだした). The government decided on the policy「政府は政策を下した」(せいふはせいさくをくだした). Additionally, '下す' can also mean 'to pass (something) down' or 'to give orders', but these meanings are less common and context-dependent. For example: The king gave orders to his subjects「王は臣下に命令を下した」(おうはしんかにめいれいをくだした).

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    3

    JLPT

    N5

    Grade

    1

    Frequency

    34

    Radical Form

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    kanji

    Meaning

    One

    radical

    Meaning

    Divination

As Part Of Other Kanji

This kanji appears as part of one other kanji:

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mountain peak, Mountain pass

Words Using

This kanji is used in 43 words:

    word

    下さる

    Meaning

    Give

    word

    Meaning

    Under

    word

    下り

    Meaning

    Descent

    word

    年下

    Meaning

    Younger

    word

    下手

    Meaning

    Unskilled

    word

    以下

    Meaning

    Below, Less

    word

    地下鉄

    Meaning

    Subway

    word

    下げる

    Meaning

    Lower

    word

    地下

    Meaning

    Underground, Basement

    word

    下ろす

    Meaning

    Lower, Unload

    word

    靴下

    Meaning

    Socks

    word

    下がる

    Meaning

    Descend, Decrease

    word

    下水

    Meaning

    Sewage

    word

    上下

    Meaning

    Updown

    word

    下書き

    Meaning

    Draft

    word

    下車

    Meaning

    Alighting

    word

    部下

    Meaning

    Subordinate

    word

    下品

    Meaning

    Vulgar

    word

    廊下

    Meaning

    Hallway

    word

    下町

    Meaning

    Downtown

    word

    下る

    Meaning

    Descend, Decide

    word

    天下

    Meaning

    World

    word

    下宿

    Meaning

    Lodging

    word

    下調べ

    Meaning

    Preparation

    word

    下す

    Meaning

    Decide

    word

    下流

    Meaning

    Downstream, Lower class

    word

    下りる

    Meaning

    Descend

    word

    下旬

    Meaning

    Last third

    word

    下記

    Meaning

    Below

    word

    下痢

    Meaning

    Diarrhea

    word

    ぶら下がる

    Meaning

    Hang

    word

    ぶら下げる

    Meaning

    Hang

    word

    目下

    Meaning

    Subordinate

    word

    低下

    Meaning

    Decline

    word

    地下道

    Meaning

    Underground

    word

    値下がり

    Meaning

    Decrease

    word

    値下げ

    Meaning

    Price reduction

    word

    見下ろす

    Meaning

    Look down

    word

    陛下

    Meaning

    Majesty

    word

    下着

    Meaning

    Underwear

    word

    飛び下りる

    Meaning

    Jump down

    word

    下駄

    Meaning

    Clogs

    word

    零下

    Meaning

    Below zero

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 53 kanji contain the part 一 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Two

    kanji

    Meaning

    Three

    kanji

    Meaning

    Seven

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hundred

    kanji

    Meaning

    Up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Big

    kanji

    Meaning

    Day, Sun

    kanji

    Meaning

    Soil

    kanji

    Meaning

    Heaven

    kanji

    Meaning

    Insect

    kanji

    Meaning

    Woman

    kanji

    Meaning

    Child

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ear

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mouth

    kanji

    Meaning

    Book, Origin

    kanji

    Meaning

    Correct

    kanji

    Meaning

    King

    kanji

    Meaning

    Ten thousand

    kanji

    Meaning

    Light

    kanji

    Meaning

    Same

    kanji

    Meaning

    Now

    kanji

    西

    Meaning

    West

    kanji

    Meaning

    Door

    kanji

    Meaning

    Picture

    kanji

    Meaning

    Construction

    kanji

    Meaning

    Talent, Age

    kanji

    Meaning

    Bird

    kanji

    Meaning

    Yellow

    kanji

    Meaning

    Come

    kanji

    Meaning

    Go

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fit, Match

    kanji

    Meaning

    Cold

    kanji

    Meaning

    Thing

    kanji

    Meaning

    Measurement

    kanji

    Meaning

    Street

    kanji

    Meaning

    Both

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beans

    kanji

    Meaning

    Precious

    kanji

    Meaning

    Plate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Worship

    kanji

    Meaning

    Use, Dispatch

    kanji

    Meaning

    Mutual

    kanji

    Meaning

    Again, Twice

    kanji

    Meaning

    Arrive, Climax

    kanji

    Meaning

    Military

    kanji

    Meaning

    Hill

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beast, Animal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Spirits

    kanji

    Meaning

    Guest, Vip

    kanji

    Meaning

    Two

    kanji

    Meaning

    Third, Third class

    kanji

    Meaning

    Dawn

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 9 kanji contain the part 卜 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Up

    kanji

    Meaning

    Outside

    kanji

    Meaning

    Fortune telling

    kanji

    Meaning

    Skin

    kanji

    Meaning

    Eminent

    kanji

    Meaning

    Proceed to

    kanji

    Meaning

    Set, Hang

    kanji

    Meaning

    Crude, Simple

    kanji

    Meaning

    Obituary

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 下 mean?

下 means 'Down'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in First Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N5 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.