下雨
下fall雨rain=to rain
下
下 (xià) Chinese Character: down, below
The small mark hangs below the line — look down!
Practice 下 in the interactive lessonChinese character story: Below the Line
下 (xià) is the mirror idea of 上. Ancient writers drew a baseline and put a short mark underneath it. The mark tells you exactly where to look: down, below, or under. It is a three-stroke direction sign that has worked for thousands of years.
🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes
Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.
下面
下below面side or surface=below or underneath
Chinese character origin and etymology
下 is documented as a basic character form. Its earlier written forms gradually became the regular-script shape used today.
In modern simplified Chinese, 下 is written with 3 strokes. This lesson separates documented shape history from the memory story so learners do not mistake a mnemonic for a historical claim. 下 works as one complete form rather than a puzzle made from smaller modern components. Learning its overall silhouette is useful because the same shape may later appear inside more complex characters.
Chinese character stroke order and structure
下 is written with 3 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.
- 下 — a mark placed below a baseline
Common usage and sentence patterns
The examples below show 下 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.
猫在桌子下。
The cat is under the table.
外面下雨了。
It is raining outside.
我们下午见。
See you this afternoon.
Learning tips for 下
Learn the reading as one unit: xià, with the fourth tone: a sharp fall. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “down, below,” and write the 3 strokes from memory.
Because 下 is a basic form, focus on its proportions and stroke direction. Compare it with 上 (shàng, up, above — the opposite of 下); 卡 (kǎ, stuck/card — 上 and 下 meet); 不 (bù, not — a different four-stroke character). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.
Quick review checklist
- Can you recognize 下 without pinyin?
- Can you say xià with the correct tone and explain “down, below”?
- Can you write all 3 strokes in order?
- Can you use 下 in one short sentence?
Related characters
Learn 下 in a themed collection
Compare this character with related beginner words. A themed path helps you notice useful pairs, word-building patterns, and everyday contexts.
Continue learning Chinese characters
Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.
Sources and editorial note
HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.
Last updated: August 12, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.