HSK 3, a, 13 strokes, radical 矢, rank #3407, Medium
矮
ǎi
short (in length)
HSK 3, a, 13 strokes, radical 矢, rank #3407, Medium
矮
ǎi
short, low; dwarf
HSK 3, a, 13 strokes, radical 矢, rank #3407, Medium
ǎi(ai3) T3
1low
2short (in length)
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March 24, 2026
矮ǎi(ai3)
The character 矮 (ǎi) means 'short' or 'low' in terms of height or length. It is commonly used to describe people, objects, or geographical features that are not tall or high. The term can also imply a sense of inferiority in certain contexts, such as in comparisons.
Strokes13Radical矢Frequency#3407DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, height can be associated with social status and attractiveness, making the term 矮 carry nuanced implications in social contexts. It is common in discussions about beauty standards, where taller individuals are often favored.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tiny, short person standing next to a tall skyscraper. The character 矮 looks like a small mountain (山 shān) with a person (人 rén) standing at the base, emphasizing the short stature. The pronunciation 'ǎi' sounds like 'I' when I feel short compared to others.
Meanings of 矮
ǎi(ai3)
1low
2short (in length)
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 矮
矮Simplified
13Strokes
矢Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3407Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L3HSK 3.0L3IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 矮
Podcast: 矮
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AI Study Notes for 矮
Quick Contrast
矮 (ǎi) vs 低 (dī) — use 矮 for describing height or stature, while 低 is used for lower elevation or position.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 矮 (ǎi) with 高 (gāo), which means 'tall'. This character is generally used in informal contexts to describe physical attributes, but can also appear in more formal settings when discussing height in measurements. Common collocations include 矮个子 (ǎi gè zi) meaning 'short person'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 矮 is essential for describing physical characteristics. Students should focus on using it in sentences about themselves or others, and practice combining it with other adjectives to describe more complex ideas.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 矮 (ǎi) with 短 (duǎn), which means 'short' in terms of length rather than height. For example, saying '这条裤子很矮' (zhè tiáo kù zi hěn ǎi) is incorrect; it should be '这条裤子很短' (zhè tiáo kù zi hěn duǎn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 矮
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Phonosemantic compound. 矢 represents the meaning and 委 represents the sound.
1The meaning half矢 carries the sense.
2The sound half委 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaydart
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 矮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
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Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 矮?
Decomposition of 矮
IDS Structure⿰矢委
矮Full Character
=
矢shi3
left
委wei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 矮?
How to say low in Chinese
“low” in Chinese is矮ǎi
The character 矮 (ǎi) means 'short' or 'low' in terms of height or length. It is commonly used to describe people, objects, or geographical features that are not tall or high. The term can also imply a sense of inferiority in certain contexts, such as in comparisons.
When to use 矮
Be careful not to confuse 矮 (ǎi) with 高 (gāo), which means 'tall'. This character is generally used in informal contexts to describe physical attributes, but can also appear in more formal settings when discussing height in measurements. Common collocations include 矮个子 (ǎi gè zi) meaning 'short person'.
矮 or something close to it
矮 (ǎi) vs 低 (dī) — use 矮 for describing height or stature, while 低 is used for lower elevation or position.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 矮 (ǎi) with 短 (duǎn), which means 'short' in terms of length rather than height. For example, saying '这条裤子很矮' (zhè tiáo kù zi hěn ǎi) is incorrect; it should be '这条裤子很短' (zhè tiáo kù zi hěn duǎn).
Write 矮
矮
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Practice writing 矮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 矮
矮 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
He planted flowers next to the short wall, and it looks very beautiful.
Cultural Notes for 矮
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, height can sometimes be associated with status or success. However, many people also appreciate qualities like kindness and intelligence regardless of physical stature, showing a more holistic view of a person's worth.
Word Family of 矮
Words Containing This Character14
矮ǎilow
矮子dwarf
矮小ǎixiǎoshort and small
矮人dwarf
矮胖dumpy
低矮short
高矮height (i.e. whether short or tall)
矮化to dwarf
白矮星white dwarf
矮个儿a short person矮個兒
矮星dwarf star
红矮星red dwarf star紅矮星
矮墩墩pudgy
矮小精悍short but intrepid (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 矮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 矮
Yes, 矮 can be used figuratively to describe something that is 'low' in status or quality, not just in physical height. For example, you might say '他在公司里的地位很矮' (tā zài gōngsī lǐ de dìwèi hěn ǎi), meaning 'He has a low status in the company.'
矮 (ǎi) specifically refers to shortness in height, particularly of people or objects, while 低 (dī) means 'low' and can refer to both height and position. For instance, you would use 矮 to talk about a person's height, whereas 低 could be used to describe something at a lower level, like a low table or low grades.
矮 (ǎi) means 'short' or 'low' in Chinese, typically used to describe height or length. It can refer to a person's stature or the altitude of an object. In some contexts, it can also imply a dwarf or someone of short stature.
You can use 矮 in a sentence to describe someone's height or the height of objects. For example, '他很矮' (tā hěn ǎi) means 'He is very short.' It can also be used in comparative forms, such as '这棵树比那棵树矮' (zhè kē shù bǐ nà kē shù ǎi), meaning 'This tree is shorter than that tree.'
You can say '他很矮' (tā hěn ǎi), which means 'He is very short.'
No, 矮 can also describe objects and places, such as '矮桌子' (ǎi zhuō zi) meaning 'short table'.
Yes, it can imply a negative comparison, especially in contexts where height is valued.
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