Japanese Conversation · Level 85
60 words
Japanese word
下品
Pronunciation
Romajigehin
Meaning
- na-adjectivevulgar
Example
その冗談は下品です。so no jō dan wa ge hin de su
That joke is vulgar.
More examples
職場では下品な言葉を使わないようにしましょう。shoku ba de wa ge hin na koto ba o tsuka wa na i yō ni shi ma shō
Let's avoid using vulgar language at work.
Core concept
Marks something as lacking the restraint and refinement expected in polite social life.
Common phrases
下品な冗談ge hin na jō dan
a vulgar joke
下品な言葉ge hin na koto ba
vulgar language
下品な表現ge hin na hyō gen
a vulgar expression
Similar words
低俗teizoku: Describes something lacking cultural quality and appealing to crude tastes.
下劣geretsu: Describes conduct or character that is morally base and contemptible.
野卑yahi: Describes manners, speech, or behavior that are coarse and lack social refinement.
俗悪zokuaku: Describes something crude, tasteless, and offensive in expression or style.
Definition in Japanese
言葉遣いや振る舞い、趣味などが卑しく、洗練を欠いているさま。koto ba zuka i ya fu ru ma i shu mi na do ga iya shi ku sen ren o ka i te i ru sa ma
Word origin
下品 (gehin, "vulgar") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 下 (ge, "lower") and 品 (hin, "quality"), suggesting a low level of refinement.
Usage tips
- English vulgar can describe an offensive lack of taste in speech, humor, or behavior, and Japanese 下品 (gehin, "vulgar") covers this broader social judgment rather than only rude words.
Other meanings
- crudena-adjective
- indecentna-adjective
Opposites
- 上品jōhinrefinedna-adjective
Related words
- 下品さgehinsavulgaritynoun