‘低估’ (dī gū) is a verb meaning 'to underestimate' — to judge something or someone as having less value, ability, strength, or importance than they actually do. The first character, 低 (dī), means 'low' or 'below', and the second, 估 (gū), means 'to estimate' or 'to assess'. Together, they literally convey 'estimating too low', capturing the idea of assigning insufficient weight or capability. It’s commonly used in contexts involving judgment, evaluation, or prediction — especially when expectations fall short of reality.

This word often carries a subtle warning or retrospective insight: it implies that the underestimation led (or could lead) to negative consequences, such as unpreparedness, surprise, or missed opportunities. It appears frequently in academic, professional, and interpersonal discussions — for example, when analyzing risks, evaluating competitors, or reflecting on personal growth. Unlike neutral terms like 'estimate', 低估 usually suggests an error in judgment, not just a neutral miscalculation.