ǎi

矮

HSK 4Character · Adjective

short; low; junior

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 15 examples
1.

adjective

short in stature

Used to describe a person's height, often used colloquially.

Tā他
shì是
gè个
ǎi矮
gè个
ér儿
 ,
jīng经
cháng常
xū需
yào要
cǎi踩
dèng凳
zǐ子
ná拿
gāo高
chù处
de的
dōng东
xi西
 。

He is a short man, often needs to step on a stool to reach high things.

Wǒ我
de的
tóng同
zhuō桌
gè个
tóu头
bù不
ǎi矮
 ,
néng能
qīng轻
sōng松
pèng碰
dào到
jiào教
shì室
tiān天
huā花
bǎn板
 。

My deskmate is not short and can easily touch the classroom ceiling.

Show 3 more examples
Zhè这
ge个
xiǎo小
yǎn演
yuán员
suī虽
rán然
ǎi矮
 ,
dàn但
yǎn演
jì技
fēi非
cháng常
chū出
sè色
 。

Although this young actor is short, his acting is very excellent.

Tā她
xiǎo小
shí时
hòu候
yīn因
wèi为
shēn身
cái材
ǎi矮
ér而
yǒu有
xiē些
zì自
bēi卑
 。

She felt a little inferior because of her short stature when she was young.

Lán篮
qiú球
yùn运
dòng动
yuán员
hěn很
shǎo少
yǒu有
shēn身
cái材
ǎi矮
de的
 。

There are very few short people among basketball players.

2.

adjective

low in height

Used to describe objects with a small vertical height.

Xiǎo小
qū区
mén门
kǒu口
yǒu有
yī一
dǔ堵
ǎi矮
qiáng墙
 ,
gāng刚
hǎo好
dǎng挡
zhù住
le了
bù部
fèn分
shì视
xiàn线
 。

There is a low wall at the community gate that blocks part of the view.

Mā妈
ma妈
gěi给
wǒ我
mǎi买
le了
yī一
zhāng张
ǎi矮
dèng凳
zi子
 ,
gāng刚
hǎo好
shì适
hé合
wǒ我
zài在
shū书
zhuō桌
qián前
chī吃
fàn饭
 。

Mom bought me a low stool that is just right for eating at my desk.

Show 3 more examples
Yuàn院
zi子
lǐ里
de的
ǎi矮
huā花
pén盆
lǐ里
zhòng种
zhe着
jǐ几
zhū株
xiàng向
rí日
kuí葵
 。

There are a few sunflowers planted in the low flower pots in the yard.

Tā他
bān搬
le了
gè个
ǎi矮
chá茶
jī几
fàng放
zài在
shā沙
fā发
páng旁
biān边
 。

He moved a low coffee table next to the sofa.

Gōng公
yuán园
lǐ里
de的
ǎi矮
guàn灌
mù木
xiū修
jiǎn剪
de得
zhěng整
zhěng整
qí齐
qí齐
 。

The low shrubs in the park are neatly trimmed.

3.

adjective

lower in rank/status

formal

Used to compare professional or social positions.

Tā他
zài在
xué学
xiào校
lǐ里
bǐ比
wǒ我
ǎi矮
yī一
jí级
 ,
suǒ所
yǐ以
wǒ我
shì是
tā他
de的
xué学
zhǎng长
 。

He is one grade lower than me at school, so I am his senior.

Zài在
zhè这
ge个
bù部
mén门
lǐ里
 ,
tā他
de的
zhí职
wèi位
bǐ比
wǒ我
ǎi矮
liǎng两
jí级
 。

His position is two ranks lower than mine in this department.

Show 3 more examples
Xīn新
rù入
zhí职
de的
yuán员
gōng工
jí级
bié别
dōu都
bǐ比
lǎo老
yuán员
gōng工
ǎi矮
 。

New employees all have lower ranks than senior employees.

Zài在
tuán团
duì队
lǐ里
 ,
tā他
de的
huà话
yǔ语
quán权
bǐ比
xiàng项
mù目
fù负
zé责
rén人
ǎi矮
hěn很
duō多
 。

His right to speak is much lower than that of the project leader in the team.

Gāng刚
bì毕
yè业
de的
dà大
xué学
shēng生
zài在
gōng公
sī司
lǐ里
tōng通
cháng常
bǐ比
yǒu有
jīng经
yàn验
de的
yuán员
gōng工
ǎi矮
yī一
jí级
 。

New college graduates are usually one grade lower than experienced employees in the company.