also: かだん
lower tier; lower step; lower berth; bottom shelf
Refers to the lower part of a multi-level structure: a lower bunk, lower shelf, lower row, or lower step. Common in everyday contexts.
I reserved a lower berth on the sleeper train.
low stance (in kendo, etc.)
Martial arts term for a low guard position where the sword tip is pointed downward. Also used in other weapon arts.
Please put the heavy books on the bottom shelf.
I keep dictionaries on the bottom shelf of the bookcase.
In the kendo match, he launched an attack from a low stance.
In kendo, one sometimes takes a low guard stance.
I sleep in the lower bunk.
中段 refers to the middle tier or middle stance, easily confused with 下段 (bottom tier/low stance) since all three level terms (上段・中段・下段) share the same 段 pattern.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading げだん is the most common.
Rare alternate reading; learners should use げだん.
Compound of 下 (lower) and 段 (step, tier). The martial arts sense is a specialized extension of the spatial meaning.