1.
low (in height or position)
Not high; close to the ground or bottom.
この机は低いです。
This desk is low.
この椅子は低すぎます。
This chair is too low.
天井が低い部屋ですね。
This room has a low ceiling.
山が低いので登りやすい。
The mountain is low, so it's easy to climb.
飛行機が低く飛んでいる。
The airplane is flying low.
2.
short (in stature)
Not tall (referring to people).
弟は背が低い。
My younger brother is short.
姉は背が低いです。
My older sister is short.
子供の頃は背が低かった。
I was short when I was a child.
背が低くてもバスケはできます。
You can play basketball even if you're short.
母は背が低いから、高い所の物に手が届かない。
My mother is short, so she can't reach things in high places.
3.
low (in degree, level, or quality)
Below average or standard.
今日は気温が低い。
The temperature is low today.
彼女は声が低い。
She has a low voice.
成功の確率は低いです。
The probability of success is low.
点数が低かったので残念です。
I'm disappointed because my score was low.
品質が低い製品は買いたくない。
I don't want to buy low-quality products.
血圧が低いので注意してください。
Please be careful because your blood pressure is low.
低い is an i-adjective meaning low (height/position), short (stature), or low (degree/level).
FORMS:
- Adverbial: 低く (低く飛ぶ: fly low)
- Noun form: 低さ (lowness)
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 背が低い: short (height of people)
- 声が低い: low voice
- 気温が低い: low temperature
- 確率が低い: low probability
- 品質が低い: low quality
CONTRAST:
Opposite of 高い (high, tall, expensive).
NOTE:
For people's height, use 背が低い, not just 低い alone. Saying 彼は低い sounds unnatural; say 彼は背が低い instead.