1.
below zero; sub-zero; below freezing
Temperature below zero degrees, typically Celsius. Used when stating temperatures below the freezing point.
今朝は零下5度だった。
It was minus 5 degrees this morning.
気温が零下になると水道管が凍る。
When the temperature drops below zero, water pipes freeze.
北海道では冬に零下20度を下回ることもある。
In Hokkaido, temperatures can drop below minus 20 degrees in winter.
USAGE:
Used before a number to indicate a temperature below zero: 零下10度 (minus 10 degrees). マイナス is also commonly used in spoken Japanese for the same purpose.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 零下～度 (minus ~ degrees)
- 零下になる (to drop below zero)
- 零下を記録する (to record sub-zero temperatures)
CONTRAST:
- マイナス: minus — loanword, commonly used in spoken Japanese
- 氷点下: below freezing point — more formal, specifically refers to below 0°C