also: ひろき
prefix
lesser (of equal court ranks); lower; junior
Archaic prefix used in the historical Japanese court rank system to indicate a lower or junior grade within the same rank level. Compare with 大い (おおい) for the senior counterpart. Not used in modern Japanese outside historical contexts.
See also: 大い
従三位は、正三位より下の位階である。
Junior Third Rank is a court rank below Senior Third Rank.
古文書には「従五位下」のような表記が見られる。
In old documents, notations like 'Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade' can be seen.