Japanese word

地下

Pronunciation

Romajichika

Meaning

  • noununderground

Example

地下に駅があります。chi ka ni eki ga a ri ma su

There is a station underground.

Illustration for 地下 (underground)

More examples

この建物には地下があります。ko no tate mono ni wa chi ka ga a ri ma su

This building has a basement.

Core concept

Describes a place or space beneath the surface of the ground, including areas used for transport or storage.

Common phrases

  • 地下に降りるchi ka ni o ri ru

    go down to the basement

  • 地下への階段chi ka e no kai dan

    stairs to the basement

Similar words

地中chichū: The space within the ground in which something is buried, planted, or located.

Definition in Japanese

地面より下にある場所や空間。ji men yo ri shita ni a ru ba sho ya kū kan

Word origin

地下 (chika) combines 地 (chi, "earth") and 下 (ka, "below"), giving the sense of a place below the ground.

Usage tips

  • In English, underground can also mean secret or outside the mainstream, while 地下 (chika) usually refers to a physical place below ground in basic Japanese.

Other meanings

  • basementnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word