下段(げだん)

げだん
noun
lower level; bottom tier; low guard
1. lower level; bottom tier; lower shelf
The lower section of a shelf, display, rack, or other vertically divided structure. Used for furniture, storage, and page layouts.
下段(げだん)の棚(たな)に置(お)いてある。
It's on the lower shelf.
冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)の下段(げだん)に野菜(やさい)を入(い)れた。
I put the vegetables on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
ページの下段(げだん)に注釈(ちゅうしゃく)が記載(きさい)されている。
Notes are listed in the lower section of the page.
2. low guard; low stance
In martial arts (especially kendo, judo, and karate), a defensive position where the weapon or body is held low. One of the five basic guard positions in kendo.
下段(げだん)に構(かま)えた。
He took a low guard stance.
剣道(けんどう)の基本(きほん)の構(かま)えには上段(じょうだん)と中段(ちゅうだん)と下段(げだん)がある。
The basic stances in kendo include the high guard, middle guard, and low guard.
相手(あいて)が上段(じょうだん)に構(かま)えたので、こちらは下段(げだん)で迎(むか)え撃(う)った。
Since the opponent took a high guard, I countered with a low guard.

Composed of 下(げ) (lower) and 段(だん) (step, tier, level). Part of a spatial set with 上段(じょうだん) (upper level) and 中段(ちゅうだん) (middle level). The everyday sense (lower shelf/section) is straightforward, but the martial arts sense is culturally significant — 下段(げだん)の構(かま)え is one of the five classical guard positions in kendo.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 下段(げだん)の棚(たな): lower shelf
  • 下段(げだん)に置(お)く: to place on the lower level
  • 下段(げだん)の構(かま)え: low guard stance
  • 下段(げだん)に構(かま)える: to take a low guard
  • 下段(げだん)蹴(げ)り: low kick (in karate)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 上段(じょうだん): upper level; high guard — the opposite position
  • 中段(ちゅうだん): middle level; middle guard — the neutral position
  • 下(した): bottom, below — more general and informal
general
Added 2026.4.29 0:32
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