下した

noun

under; below; beneath

The basic spatial sense: a place lower than, under, or beneath something. Commonly used with の下, 下に, 下で, and 下から.

• 机つくえの下したに猫ねこがいる。

  There is a cat under the desk.

• 坂さかの下したで友ともだちを待まった。

  I waited for my friend at the bottom of the hill.

noun

bottom; lower part

Refers to the bottom or lower part of a page, screen, list, object, or area, rather than necessarily the space underneath it.

• ページの下したに番ばん号ごうが書かいてある。

  A number is written at the bottom of the page.

• 画が面めんの下したをタップしてください。

  Please tap the bottom of the screen.

noun

younger; lower in rank; inferior

Extends the idea of being lower to age order, rank, ability, or status. 下の子 means a younger child; 下の者 means a subordinate or junior.

• 下したの娘むすめはまだ小しょう学がく生せいです。

  My younger daughter is still in elementary school.

• 実じつ力りょくは彼かれのほうが私わたしより下しただ。

  In ability, he is below me.

• 下したの者ものにも丁てい寧ねいに接せっするべきだ。

  You should treat even your subordinates politely.

noun

right after; no sooner than

Used mainly in the idiomatic pattern 下から or 下より after a verb, meaning that something happens immediately after the previous action, often despite a warning or expectation.

• 注ちゅう意いした下したから、また同おなじミスをした。

  No sooner had I warned him than he made the same mistake again.

noun

trade-in

Limited commercial shorthand connected with 下取り. In ordinary speech, the full word 下取り is clearer and much more explicit.

See also: 下取り

• 中ちゅう古こ車しゃ販はん売ばいの文ぶん脈みゃくでは、「下した」が「下した取どり」を指さすことがある。

  In the context of used-car sales, 下 can refer to a trade-in.

noun, used as a prefix

preliminary; preparatory

Prefix-like use in compounds such as 下準備, 下調べ, and 下書き, referring to something done in advance as groundwork or preparation.

See also: 下準備

• 旅りょ行こうの下した準じゅん備びをしておく。

  I will do the preliminary preparations for the trip.

• 発はっ表ぴょうの前まえに下した調しらべをした。

  I did some preliminary research before the presentation.