目下
めした · meshita · JLPT N2 · noun
present
目 (eye) + 下 (below): what sits just below your eyes right now = at present
Correct reading is もっか (mokka). めした (meshita) means subordinate or junior. 目下 is eye + below: the moment currently under your gaze, i.e. now.
下 — horizontal line 一 + mark below
下 is an indicative character: a long horizontal line represents a reference level, and a shorter stroke placed beneath it points to the area below. The original meaning 'below, down' comes directly from this spatial diagram, and it later extended to verbs like 'descend' and 'lower'.
もっか · mokka · JLPT N1 · noun
present
下 — horizontal line 一 + mark below
下 is an indicative character: a long horizontal line represents a reference level, and a shorter stroke placed beneath it points to the area below. The original meaning 'below, down' comes directly from this spatial diagram, and it later extended to verbs like 'descend' and 'lower'.