Recognize 下 in everyday Japanese. Start with its meaning, below; underneath, then learn to read it in whole words such as 下 and 地下鉄.

The idea

Kanji may have Japanese-origin and Chinese-origin readings; learn each with its word. Compare 下（した） and 地下鉄（ちかてつ）. 下 has 3 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingMeaning
下したbelow; underneath
地下鉄ちかてつsubway
地下ちかunderground; basement

Examples

  • 木きの下したで休やすみます。I rest under a tree.
  • かぎは椅子いすの下したにありました。The key was under the chair.
  • 机つくえの下したに本ほんがあります。There is a book under the desk.
  • 地下鉄ちかてつで会社かいしゃへ行いきます。I go to the office by subway.
  • 下したをよく見みてください。Please look carefully below.
  • 地下ちかに店みせがあります。There is a shop in the basement.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

下 alone is した; in 地下 and 地下鉄 it is read か. Compare the shape of 下 with 上 so you do not confuse them.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 下 in hiragana.

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    した

    下 is read した; it means below; underneath. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  2. Write the reading of 地下鉄 in hiragana.

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    ちかてつ

    地下鉄 is read ちかてつ; it means subway. Learn the reading as part of this word.

  3. Fill in the missing kanji: 地＿鉄（ちかてつ）.

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    下

    下 completes 地下鉄, read ちかてつ; the word means subway.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 下 from memory, and read 下 and 地下鉄 aloud. Then check the readings and meanings.