Chinese word

之下

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhī xià

Meaning

  • noununder

Example

在法律之下，人人平等。zài fǎ lǜ zhī xià rén rén píng děng

Under the law, everyone is equal.

Illustration for 之下 (under)

More examples

在巨大的压力之下，他仍然很冷静。zài jù dà de yā lì zhī xià tā réng rán hěn lěng jìng

Under enormous pressure, he remained calm.

Core concept

Marks something as lower than a reference point or within the authority and limits set by it.

Common phrases

  • 法律之下fǎ lǜ zhī xià

    under the law

  • 压力之下yā lì zhī xià

    under pressure

  • 表面之下biǎo miàn zhī xià

    under the surface

Similar words

下面xià miàn: The lower side or area beneath a person, object, or place, in everyday speech.
以下yǐ xià: The range below a stated number, level, rank, or standard.

Definition in Chinese

表示处于某物或某种标准的下方或支配之下，常用于书面语，含有空间位置或程度低于对方的意思。biǎo shì chǔ yú mǒu wù huò móu zhǒng biāo zhǔn de xià fāng huò zhī pèi zhī xià cháng yòng yú shū miàn yǔ hán yǒu kōng jiān wèi zhì huò chéng dù dī yú duì fāng de yì si

Word origin

之 (zhī, "of; linking particle") + 下 (xià, "down; below") forms a literary pattern for placing something beneath a stated reference or within its control.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, this form often sounds formal and appears more naturally in laws, policies, and official statements than in casual speech.

Other meanings

  • belowadverb
  • undersidenoun

Opposites

  • 之上zhī shàngabovenoun

Word lists with this word