Hikui is the Japanese i-adjective for ‘low’, explained

What does “hikui” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “hikui” to mean ‘low’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this i-adjective as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “hikui” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “hikui”
  • Example #1: how to say “low” in Japanese
• Hikukunai: the nai form of “hikui”
  • Example #2: how to say “not low” in Japanese
• Hikukatta: the ta form of “hikui”
  • Example #3: how to say “was low” in Japanese
• Hikukute: the te form of “hikui”
  • Example #4: how to say “low and” in Japanese
• Hikukereba: the ba form of “hikui”
  • Example #5: how to say “if low” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “hikui”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “hikui”.

• hikui – 低い (ひくい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘low’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe something low in level, degree, value, quality, or such in Japanese. So, the usage is similar to that of “low” in English, I think.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “low” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kyou – 今日 (きょう) : a noun meaning ‘today’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works as a topic marker after “kyou” to put a focus on it.
• kion – 気温 (きおん) : a noun meaning ‘temperature’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “kion” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “hikui”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “hikui kion” to mean a ‘low temperature’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘low’ in Japanese, this i-adjective is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “hikui” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “hikukunai”.

Hikukunai: the nai form of “hikui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “hikukunai”.

• hikukunai – 低くない (ひくくない) : the nai form of “hikui”, which means ‘not low’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hikukunai” consists of the following two parts:

• hikuku – 低く (ひくく) : one conjugation of “hikui”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hikukunai” is literally the nai form of “hikui” and means ‘not low’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not low” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• natsu – 夏 (なつ) : a noun meaning ‘summer’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “natsu” and “kion”. The formed phrase literally means ‘the temperature in summer’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to those of some English prepositions.

This is a typical usage of “hikukunai”. When we want to mean ‘not low’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Hikukatta: the ta form of “hikui”

Below are the definition and meanings of “hikukatta”.

• hikukatta – 低かった (ひくかった) : the ta form of “hikui”, which means ‘was low’, ‘were low’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hikukatta” consists of the following two parts:

• hikukat – 低かっ (ひくかっ) : one conjugation of “hikui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hikukatta” is literally the ta form of “hikui” and means ‘was low’, ‘were low’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was low” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ryouri – 料理 (りょうり) : a noun meaning ‘food’, ‘dish’, or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• shitsu – 質 (しつ) : a noun meaning ‘quality’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “hikukatta”. Perhaps, the translation should be “the quality of the food was poor”, but we can use “hikui” to describe the low quality in Japanese.

Hikukute: the te form of “hikui”

Below are the definition and meaning of “hikukute”.

• hikukute – 低くて (ひくくて) : the te form of “hikui”, which means ‘low’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hikukute” consists of the following two parts:

• hikuku – 低く (ひくく) : one conjugation of “hikui”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hikukute” is literally the te form of “hikui”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “hikukute” is very useful when we want to use “hikui” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “low and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• samui – 寒い (さむい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘cold’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “hikukute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “samui”. When we want to use “hikui” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Hikukereba: the ba form of “hikui”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “hikukereba”.

• hikukereba – 低ければ (ひくければ) : the ba form of “hikui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘low’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “hikukereba” consists of the following two parts:

• hikukere – 低けれ (ひくけれ) : one conjugation of “hikui”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “hikukereba” is literally the ba form of “hikui”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “hikukereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘low’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if low” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• seikatsuhi – 生活費 (せいかつひ) : a noun meaning ‘cost of living’ in Japanese.
• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• inaka – 田舎 (いなか) : a noun meaning ‘countryside’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something is. In the example, this is used after “inaka” to say where the speaker wants to live.
• sumi – 住み (すみ) : one conjugation of the verb, “sumu”, which means ‘to live’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• tai – たい : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its desire form. In the example, this is used after “sumi” to make its desire form, “sumi tai”, which means ‘to want to live’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “hikukereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “seikatsuhi ga hikukereba”, which means ‘if the cost of living is low’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘low’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “hikui” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• hikui – 低い (ひくい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘low’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• hikukunai – 低くない (ひくくない) : the nai form of “hikui”, which means ‘not low’ in Japanese.
• hikukatta – 低かった (ひくかった) : the ta form of “hikui”, which means ‘was low’, ‘were low’, or such in Japanese.
• hikukute – 低くて (ひくくて) : the te form of “hikui”, which means ‘low’ in Japanese. When we want to use “hikui” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• hikukereba – 低ければ (ひくければ) : the ba form of “hikui”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘low’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.