矮
low, short
Readings
On'yomi
- ワイ
- アイ
Kun'yomi
- ひく.い
Meaning
矮 centers on being physically low in height: short or squat. The meanings "low" and "short" both describe a lack of vertical extent.
Most common words using 矮
- 矮小わいしょう
diminutive; dwarfish; pygmy; stunted; undersized
- 矮星わいせい
dwarf star
- 矮鶏チャボ
(Japanese) bantam
- 白色矮星はくしょくわいせい
white dwarf
- 矮人わいじん
dwarf
- 矮小不規則銀河わいしょうふきそくぎんが
dwarf irregular galaxy
- 矮小化わいしょうか
reduction (in size); shrinking; minimization
- 矮小銀河わいしょうぎんが
dwarf galaxy
- 矮小陰茎わいしょういんけい
micropenis
- 矮性わいせい
dwarfism
- 矮惑星わいわくせい
dwarf planet
- 矮樹わいじゅ
low or short tree
- 矮躯わいく
small stature
- 矮鶏大戟ちゃぼたいげき
petty spurge (Euphorbia peplus)
- 矮鶏檜葉チャボひば
Chamaecyparis obtusa var. breviramea (ornamental variety of hinoki cypress)
- 褐色矮星かっしょくわいせい
brown dwarf
- 赤色矮星せきしょくわいせい
red dwarf
- 黒色矮星こくしょくわいせい
black dwarf
Study
Etymology
矮 combines 矢 (arrow) and 委, which likely contributes the sound. The arrow component may relate to measuring or shortness, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
An arrow 矢 beside a bent-over woman 委 suggests something short: imagine an arrow that is too short to reach its target, or a woman who is short in stature.
Reading mnemonic
For ワイ, imagine a short person asking "Why?" in a high-pitched voice: "Why?" sounds like ワイ, and the short stature makes the question seem even smaller.