Japanese

Adjective

低い ‎(-i inflection, hiragana ひくい, romaji hikui)

1. low
   • 1933, 海野十三, 空襲下の日本:

     その向 (むこ)うの角 (かど)を入 (はい)ると、屋根 (やね)の低 (ひく)い町家 (まちや)が並 (なら)び立 (た)っていた。

     Sono mukou no kado o hairu to, yane no hikui machiya ga narabitatte ita.

     He turned the corner and there was a line of townhouses with low roofs.

2. short (height)
   • 1923, 宮本百合子, 弟子の心:

     その時分 (じぶん)から、私 (わたし)はまるで背 (せ)低 (ひく)くであったので、級 (きゅう)では一番前列 (いちばんまえれつ)に席 (せき)がある。

     Sono jibun kara, watashi wa marude se hikuku de atta node, kyū de wa ichiban mae retsu ni seki ga aru.

     At that time I was so short that I my seat was in the row at the head of the class.

3. low in pitch
   • 1915, 豊島与志雄, 囚われ:

     「ええ、」と富子 (とみこ)は低 (ひく)く答 (こた)えた。

     “Ē,” To tomiko wa hikuku kotaeta.

     "Mhm," Tomiko replied in a low voice.

4. inferior (status)

   社会的地位が低い

   be inferior in the society

Antonyms

• (low; inferior): 高 (たか)い ‎(takai)

Inflection