The kanji character 低 primarily conveys the meaning of "low," "short," or "to lower." It can describe physical height, as in something being physically low to the ground, or it can be used more abstractly to describe levels or degrees. It suggests a sense of inferiority, reduction, or a state of being at a less elevated position.

・On-yomi (音読み): テイ (tei) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): ひく(い) (hiku(i))

⚫︎ 低い声 Translation: Low voice ⚫︎ 最低 (さい てい) Translation: The lowest; the worst; the minimum ⚫︎ 低価格 (てい かかく) Translation: Low price

The kanji 低 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字, けいせいもじ). The semantic component is 阝 (on the left side), which is a simplified form of 阜, which depicts a "hill" or "mound". The phonetic component is 底 (テイ or てい), which contributes to the sound and also refers to "bottom" or "base." Therefore, 低 visually represents a hill or mound that is at the "bottom," thus suggesting something "low" or "short."