zi1 haa6之下

Jyutpingzi1 haa6

Yalejī hah

詞綴Very common

Definition

Under, below, or beneath; also used figuratively to indicate being subjected to or influenced by.

spatially below or beneath something
inferior to or at a lower level than something else in comparison
under the influence, control, or condition of

writtendescriptionsother

How it's used

Functions primarily as a formal marker to describe being subject to external conditions, influences, or authority. While it can denote physical location, it is far more common in abstract contexts to describe states like pressure, guidance, or legal frameworks. It carries a slightly literary or academic tone compared to more direct spatial markers like 底下.

Examples

keoi5佢喺hai2壓aat3力lik6之zi1下，haa6終zung1於jyu1爆baau3發faat3出ceot1嚟。

Under pressure, he finally exploded.

喺hai2呢ni1個go3政zing3策caak3之zi1下，haa6大daai6家gaa1都dou1好hou2唔m4開hoi1心。

Under this policy, everyone is very unhappy.

Common phrases

aat3壓lik6力zi1之haa6下

under pressure

zi2指dou6導zi1之haa6下

under the guidance of

Common mistake

Avoid using this for simple physical positions where a person or object is directly underneath something else, as 喺下面 or 喺底係更自然. It is specifically for abstract conditions or formal descriptions of being beneath something.