Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

下位 (かい, kai) Japanese meaning: lower rank | Kotomora

下か位い

か

い

Common word›JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 1,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

lower rank; lower position; subordinate position

Used for a lower place in a ranking, hierarchy, organization, list, or order. Often appears as 下位の, 下位に, or in contrast with 上位.

そのチームはリーグの下か位いに沈しずんでいる。

That team is stuck near the bottom of the league.

下か位いの候こう補ほ者しゃにも発はつ言げんの機き会かいが与あたえられた。

The lower-ranked candidates were also given a chance to speak.

2

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

lower-order; less significant

Technical use for the lower-order or less significant part of an ordered value, especially in computing terms such as 下位ビット and 下位バイト.

この処しょ理りでは、下か位い8ビットだけを取とり出だす。
In this process, only the lower 8 bits are extracted.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉が下か位いを占しめるfor something to occupy a lower rank
このチームはリーグの下か位いを占しめている。
This team occupies the lower ranks of the league.
下か位いに位い置ちするto be positioned in a lower rank or category
この製せい品ひんは価か格かく帯たいの中なかで下か位いに位い置ちしている。
This product is positioned at the lower end of the price range.
下か位いに転てん落らくするto fall to a lower rank
彼かれのチームは一いっ気きに下か位いに転てん落らくした。
His team suddenly dropped to the lower rankings.

Kanji

下below, down, descend
位rank, grade, throne

Related words

下か級きゅう sense 1
下位 refers to a lower place within a specific ranking or ordered list, while 下級 more often describes a lower class, grade, or general level rather than a spot in a particular ranking.
劣れつ位い sense 1
下位 is a neutral term for a lower rank or position, whereas 劣位 emphasizes being at a disadvantage or inferior standing relative to others.
下か部ぶ
下位 describes a lower rank or position in an ordering, while 下部 more often describes a lower-level organizational unit or a physically lower part.
下した手てN1
下位 is a neutral term for a lower rank or position, while 下手 (したて) carries the added nuance of humility or disadvantage in a relationship or negotiation.

Opposites

上じょう位いN1
下位 means a lower rank or position, while 上位 means a higher rank or position, and the two are regularly used as a contrasting pair.
高こう位い
下位 means a low rank or, in computing, a low-order digit/bit, the direct opposite of 高位.

Don't confuse with

最さい下か位い
下位 just means a lower rank (not necessarily the very bottom), while 最下位 specifically means the absolute lowest rank.

Word family· 20

最さい下か位い
last place; lowest rank; bottom · least significant (bit); lowest order
下か位い層そう
lower level; lower layer
下か位い群ぐん
subgroup
下か位い者しゃ
person of low rank or position

Etymology

A transparent Sino-Japanese compound: 下 means lower or below, and 位 means rank or position. Together they indicate a lower rank, position, or order.

下か位い語ご

hyponym · narrower term

Show 6 more

下か位い互ご換かん
upward compatible; forward compatible · downward compatible; backward compatible · inferior version; less effective equivalent
下か位い分ぶん類るい
subclass; subdivision; subcategory
下か位い参さん照しょう
subordinate reference
下か位い打だ線せん
bottom of the batting order
下か位い文ぶん化か
subculture
下か位い方ほう言げん
subdialect

See all 20 in Explore →