ǎi
short [height]
他很矮，只有一米五。
tā hěn ǎi, zhǐ yǒu yī mǐ wǔ.
He is very short, only 1.5 meters tall.
这个桌子太矮了，我坐着用不舒服。
zhè ge zhuō zi tài ǎi le, wǒ zuò yòng bù shū fu.
This table is too low, it's uncomfortable for me to sit and use.
那座山不高，但很矮。
nà zuò shān bù gāo, dàn hěn ǎi.
That mountain is not high, but it is very short.
短 (duǎn)
short
小 (xiǎo)
small
高 (gāo)
tall
长 (cháng)
long
Track your progress, master characters, and achieve your Chinese language goals.
Get Started Free
The Chinese character 矮 (ǎi) for "short" is composed of two parts: 人 (rén) meaning "person" and 韋 (wéi) meaning "hide" or "leather". The original meaning of 矮 was "a person wearing a short leather coat". Over time, the meaning of 矮 evolved to refer to someone who is short in stature.The character 矮 is first recorded in the oracle bone script, the earliest known form of Chinese writing. In the oracle bone script, 矮 is depicted as a person wearing a short leather coat and holding a staff. This image suggests that the original meaning of 矮 was "a person who is short and wears a short leather coat".The character 矮 is also found in the bronze script, another early form of Chinese writing. In the bronze script, 矮 is depicted as a person wearing a short leather coat and holding a bow and arrow. This image suggests that the original meaning of 矮 was "a person who is short and is a skilled archer".The character 矮 is also found in the seal script, a later form of Chinese writing. In the seal script, 矮 is depicted as a person wearing a short leather coat and holding a sword. This image suggests that the original meaning of 矮 was "a person who is short and is a skilled swordsman".Over time, the meaning of 矮 evolved to refer to someone who is short in stature. This is the meaning of 矮 that is used today.
