Looking up...
下端
かたん (katan)
lower end
この棒の下端を持ってください。
Please hold the lower end of this rod.
formal
The bottom or lower part of something.
機械の下端に注意してください。
Please be careful with the lower end of the machine.
Often used in technical or mechanical contexts to refer to the bottom part of an object or structure.
Finance
formal
The lower limit or minimum value in a range or scale.
株価の下端を下回る。
The stock price falls below the lower limit.
Common in financial or statistical contexts to describe the lowest point in a data range.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 上端
上端 means 'upper end' and is the direct antonym of 下端. Always check the context to ensure you're referring to the correct end of an object.
Gold Rule
Context matters in technical writing
In technical manuals or engineering documents, 下端 is preferred over colloquial terms like 底 to maintain precision. However, in casual conversation, 底 is more natural.
Word Origin
Composed of 下 (lower) and 端 (end, tip), both kanji characters with roots in classical Japanese. The word has been used in technical and mechanical contexts since the Meiji era.
Usage Notes
下端 is typically used in formal or technical writing. In everyday speech, simpler terms like 底 (bottom) or 下の方 (lower part) are more common.
Word Breakdown
下
lower, under
root端
end, tip, edge
root和英辞典