下
xià
The English word 'down' is translated into Chinese as 下 (xià).
下 is used as an adverb to indicate movement or a change from a high position to a low position. In more formal contexts, you may encounter 向下 to mean 'towards down' or 'in a downward direction' or 下方 to refer specifically to the 'lower part' or 'bottom' of something.
Meaning: from a high to a low position, downwards (adv)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, 下 often functions as a complement to a verb to indicate direction or the result of an action. To express movement towards the speaker, combine it with '来' to form 下来 (come down). To express movement away from the speaker, combine it with '去' to form 下去 (go down/continue).
How do you pronounce it?
xià
Did you know?
- The word 下 is a linguistic cousin to the Chinese word for 'dew', 露, because they both share a common root related to things falling from the sky.
- The character 下 is not just a direction but can also function as a verb meaning 'to dismiss' or 'to order someone to leave', such as in 'dismissing a subordinate'.
- The character 下 is the direct visual opposite of 上, which places the horizontal line above the arc to mean 'up'.
Examples in context
- 你给我下来！Get down here!This sentence demonstrates the use of 下 to command someone to come down.Tatoeba #1766123 by sadhen, translation #1766129 by nickyeow
- 放下你的枪。Put your guns down.Tatoeba #4844991 by pig8322, translation #2648059 by CK
- 汤姆坐下了。Tom sat down.This sentence illustrates the use of 下 as a complement to indicate the completion of a downward movement while sitting.Tatoeba #4977379 by musclegirlxyp, translation #2237642 by CK
- 我们要向下走两个楼层找到会议室。We need to go down two floors to find the meeting room.
- 在下方有一个宽敞的停车场。There is a spacious parking lot down below.
- 钥匙在下面的抽屉里。The key is in the drawer below.
- 那张桌子下边有一个书包。There is a backpack under that table.
- 爸爸和妈妈下楼去买菜了。Mom and Dad went downstairs to buy groceries.
- 187 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zihan and Haoran are at a park with a tall slide.
- 梓涵 Zihan浩然，你快点下来吧。Hàorán, nǐ kuàidiǎn xiàlái ba.Haoran, please come down quickly.
- 浩然 Haoran我还没准备好往下走。Wǒ hái méi zhǔnbèi hǎo wǎng xià zǒu.I am not ready to go down yet.
- 梓涵 Zihan别害怕，直接跳下来。Bié hàipà, zhíjiē tiào xiàlái.Don't be afraid, just jump down.
- 浩然 Haoran好吧，我这就下来。Hǎo ba, wǒ zhè jiù xiàlái.Okay, I'm coming down now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “down” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 下, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
