Chinese word

卑鄙

Pronunciation

Pinyinbēi bǐ

Meaning

  • adjectivedespicable

Example

这么做真卑鄙。zhè me zuò zhēn bēi bǐ

Doing this is really despicable.

Illustration for 卑鄙 (despicable)

More examples

那些卑鄙之徒被大家唾弃。nà xiē bēi bǐ zhī tú bèi dà jiā tuò qì

Everyone despises those despicable people.

Core concept

A lack of moral scruple that makes degrading methods seem acceptable when they serve a purpose.

Common phrases

  • 卑鄙之徒bēi bǐ zhī tú

    despicable person

  • 卑鄙的手段bēi bǐ de shǒu duàn

    despicable means

  • 卑鄙的本性bēi bǐ de běn xìng

    despicable nature

Similar words

卑劣bēi liè: Marked by poor character and disgraceful actions used to obtain an advantage.
恶劣è liè: Extremely unfavorable in quality or condition, with a strongly negative effect.
可耻ké chǐ: So morally wrong that the conduct brings shame and deserves criticism.
邪恶xié è: Malicious by nature and harmful to people or the wider community.

Definition in Chinese

含贬义，指为达目的而采取卑劣、见不得人的手段，或表现出小人心态的言行。hán biǎn yì zhǐ wèi dá mù dì ér cái qǔ bēi liè jiàn bù dé rén de shǒu duàn huò biǎo xiàn chū xiǎo rén xīn tài de yán xíng

Word origin

卑 (bēi, "lowly") + 鄙 (bǐ, "vulgar or crude") combine the ideas of low moral standing and poor conduct.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, the word can insult a person as well as criticize an action, so it is safer to apply it to clearly contemptible conduct when the context is serious.

Other meanings

  • lowadjective
  • vulgaradjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 卑鄙无耻bēi bǐ wú chǐdespicable and shamelessidiom

Word lists with this word