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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "below" in Japanese?
下
shita
In Japanese, "below" is 下 (shita).
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Pronunciation
下 is written using kanji. Romanised as shita, it sounds roughly like "shee-tah" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
Shita (下) is a basic spatial kanji that pairs with ue (above). It is one of the first kanji children learn and appears in hundreds of compound words and place names.
Example sentence
犬はテーブルの下で寝ています。
Inu wa teburu no shita de nete imasu.
The dog is sleeping under the table.
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How to remember 下
The kanji 下 looks like something hanging down or falling. Shita means below. Note: shita also means tongue, using different kanji.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 下
How do you pronounce 下?
下 is romanised as shita. Say it roughly like "shee-tah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 下 formal or casual?
下 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 下 written in Japanese?
下 is written using kanji. Shita (下) is a basic spatial kanji that pairs with ue (above).
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Below" in other languages
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