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ǎi

Character evolution

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Simplified · Today

Shuowen

矮 (ǎi), meaning "short in stature," is composed of 矢 on the left and 委 on the right. The element 矢, also found in 短 (duǎn, "short"), originally represented an arrow but came to denote shortness—arrows being ancient standards of measurement—while 委 suggests bending or reducing. Together, the character depicts something compressed or diminished in length, capturing the idea of being low or small.

Pinyin

ǎi· HSK 2