下界
Meanings
1
the earth below; the ground below
Refers to the world or ground below a vantage point, such as from a high place or an aircraft.
From the airplane, the world below looks just like a model.
2
this world; the earthly realm
Buddhist term contrasting the human world with heavenly realms or the Pure Land.
In Buddhism, this world is considered a place of much suffering.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉から下界を見下ろすto look down at the world below from a high place
Looking down at the world below from the observation deck, the city looked like a model.
- 下界の喧騒the bustle and noise of the mundane world
The quiet of the mountain temple makes you forget the bustle of the world below.
- 下界に降りるto descend to the earthly world (esp. from a mountain or heavenly place)
The monk who had secluded himself in the mountains finally decided to descend to the world below.