Definitions
(adjective)
low; humble
(adjective)
inferior; base
Etymology
Pictograph of a hand holding a tool used by servants.
About
The character "卑" originated from an early pictographic concept representing a hand holding a tool or vessel, which conceptually linked to servile or lowly activities. Its structural composition, often interpreted as a combination of elements suggesting a subordinate position, inherently carried the core meaning of "low" or "humble". Initially denoting physical height or social rank, the term gradually broadened to encompass ethical judgments, acquiring connotations of inferiority and, in some contexts, moral baseness. This semantic expansion allowed "卑" to be employed in diverse linguistic compounds, where it now contributes to expressions of both respectful humility and derogatory contempt.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他的手段很卑劣。
我鄙视卑鄙的人。
不要有自卑的心理。
她出身卑微但很努力。
他用卑鄙的方式赢了比赛。
卑微的工作也需要尊重。
地位卑贱不代表人格低下。
他克服了自卑感，变得自信。