usage - When would you use 低い【ひくい】 vs 短い【みじかい】

Are 低い and 短い interchangable or do they have specific uses?

Answer

低い hikui is "short in height" or "low", 短い mijikai is "short in length".

• 私は背が低い - I'm short (in stature)


• 天井の低い部屋 - a room with low ceiling


• 短いスカート - a short skirt


• 髪を短く切る - cutting one's hair short

(Examples from プログレッシブ英和・和英中辞典)

A short piece of string cannot be 低い and calling a low bridge 短い would mean the wrong thing.