下 — JLPT N5 Kanji | Nihongo Pass

下

JLPT N5

Kun-yomi (Japanese reading)

した、しも、もと、さ.げる、さ.がる、くだ.る、くだ.り、くだ.す、くだ.さる、お.ろす、お.りる

On-yomi (Chinese reading)

カ、ゲ

Meaning

Stroke Count

3 strokes

Related Vocabulary

下手 poor at, unskilled 下品 vulgar, crude, coarse 下手（な） Unskillful / Bad at 廊下 corridor, hallway 地下鉄 subway, underground train 以下 below, less than, or less, the following

📝 How to Remember

「下」is one of the simplest kanji with only 3 strokes. Focus on getting the stroke order correct from the start — simple kanji appear in almost every JLPT question.

⚠️ Teacher's Note — On-yomi vs Kun-yomi

「下」has both On-yomi (カ、ゲ) and Kun-yomi (した、しも、もと、さ.げる、さ.がる、くだ.る、くだ.り、くだ.す、くだ.さる、お.ろす、お.りる). On-yomi is typically used in compound words (two kanji together), while Kun-yomi appears when the kanji stands alone or with hiragana.

🎯 JLPT N5 — How It's Tested

もんだい1 (Kanji Reading) & もんだい2 (Kanji Writing)

「下」typically appears in もんだい1, where you choose the correct reading, and もんだい2, where you choose the correct kanji for a hiragana word. Make sure you can recognize it both ways.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do you read the kanji 「下」?+

On-yomi: カ、ゲ. Kun-yomi: した、しも、もと、さ.げる、さ.がる、くだ.る、くだ.り、くだ.す、くだ.さる、お.ろす、お.りる.

What does 「下」mean in Japanese?+

「下」means "null". It is a JLPT N5 kanji — one of the most essential characters for beginners.

How many strokes does 「下」have?+

「下」is written with 3 strokes.

Is 「下」on the JLPT N5?+

Yes, 「下」is an official JLPT N5 kanji. Knowing all ~110 N5 kanji is essential for passing the exam.

Practice 「下」 with AI

Start Free Training →Try the demo — no sign-up