矮

ǎi

委 + 矢

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

ǎi (adjective) short; low (in height)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 矢 represents the meaning and 委 represents the sound.

Semantic: 矢 Phonetic: 委

About

矮 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical 矢 ('arrow') on the left hints at the meaning, while the phonetic component 委 on the right provides the sound. The character denotes short stature, an object low to the ground, or a lack of vertical height relative to a norm. The arrow radical reflects ancient practices where arrows were used as standardized units for measuring height or depth. The phonetic 委, meaning 'to entrust, delegate, or droop' on its own, gives the pronunciation but does not influence the character's meaning.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个房子很矮小。

Zhège fángzi hěn ǎixiǎo.

This house is very short and small.

我弟弟比我矮一点。

Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ ǎi yīdiǎn.

My younger brother is a little shorter than me.

那个矮个子男孩很灵活。

Nàgè ǎi gèzi nánhái hěn línghuó.

That short boy is very agile.

院子周围有一道矮墙。

Yuànzi zhōuwéi yǒu yī dào ǎi qiáng.

There is a low wall around the yard.

这些灌木长得比较矮。

Zhèxiē guànmù zhǎng de bǐjiào ǎi.

These shrubs grow relatively low.

他身材矮小但力气很大。

Tā shēncái ǎixiǎo dàn lìqi hěn dà.

He is short in stature but very strong.

不要因为身高矮而自卑。

Bùyào yīnwèi shēngāo ǎi ér zìbēi.

Don't feel inferior because of your short height.

这栋建筑在摩天楼旁边显得很矮。

Zhè dòng jiànzhù zài mótiānlóu pángbiān xiǎnde hěn ǎi.

This building appears very short next to the skyscraper.

Related Characters

Component: 委

Component: 矢

矮