Definitions

biǎn (verb) to diminish; to reduce; to devalue
biǎn (verb) to demote
biǎn (verb) to criticize; to disparage

Etymology

To devalue  currency 

About

The character "贬", whose traditional form is "貶", combines the radical "貝" representing value or currency with the component "乏" implying shortage, a structure that originally conveyed the idea of reducing worth, as in economic devaluation. Its meaning later extended to denote the demotion of individuals within official hierarchies, and eventually generalized to express the act of belittling or criticizing, shifting from a concrete context of diminishment to one of verbal disparagement.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

不要低别人的努力。

Bùyào biǎndī biérén de nǔlì.

Don't belittle other people's efforts.

他总是斥流行音乐。

Tā zǒngshì biǎnchì liúxíng yīnyuè.

He always disparages pop music.

这货币值得很厉害。

Zhè huòbì biǎnzhí de hěn lìhai.

This currency has depreciated severely.

他被到一个偏远的分公司。

Tā bèi biǎn dào yīgè piānyuǎn de fēn gōngsī.

He was demoted to a remote branch office.

这种说法带有义。

Zhè zhǒng shuōfǎ dàiyǒu biǎnyì.

This way of speaking carries a derogatory connotation.

评论家严厉损了这部新电影。

Pínglùnjiā yánlì biǎnsǔnle zhè bù xīn diànyǐng.

The critic severely disparaged this new film.

在逆境中,他从不自我抑。

Zài nìjìng zhōng, tā cóng bù zìwǒ biǎnyì.

In adversity, he never engages in self-deprecation.

由于他公开批评公司政策,不久就被职了。

Yóuyú tā gōngkāi pīpíng gōngsī zhèngcè, bùjiǔ jiù bèi biǎnzhíle.

Because he publicly criticized the company's policies, he was soon demoted.