Chinese word

轻蔑

Pronunciation

Pinyinqīng miè

Meaning

  • verblook down on

Example

不要轻蔑别人。bú yào qīng miè bié rén

Don't look down on other people.

Illustration for 轻蔑 (look down on)

More examples

她从他的表情中看出他在轻蔑她。tā cóng tā de biǎo qíng zhōng kàn chū tā zài qīng miè tā

She could tell from his expression that he was looking down on her.

Core concept

Someone is mentally placed beneath the self and treated as unworthy of serious regard, with that judgment showing in dismissive or insulting behavior.

Common phrases

  • 公然轻蔑别人gōng rán qīng miè bié rén

    openly look down on others

  • 当面轻蔑别人dāng miàn qīng miè bié rén

    look down on others face-to-face

  • 背后轻蔑别人bèi hòu qīng miè bié rén

    look down on others behind their backs

Similar words

蔑视miè shì: Treating someone with scorn and contempt through a clearly disrespectful attitude.
鄙视bǐ shì: Holding someone in contempt because their actions or character seem low or unworthy.
看不起kàn bù qǐ: Regarding someone as inferior and showing that judgment through words or behavior.
轻视qīng shì: Giving too little importance to a person or thing and failing to value it properly.

Definition in Chinese

认为别人不如自己，从而在态度或言辞上表现出贬低或侮辱的行为。rèn wéi bié rén bù rú zì jǐ cóng ér zài tài dù huò yán cí shàng biǎo xiàn chū biǎn dī huò wú rǔ de xíng wéi

Word origin

轻 (qīng, "light") + 蔑 (miè, "to despise") joins the idea of treating someone as of little weight with open disdain.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this is a strong judgment rather than a mild complaint, so it fits clear contempt better than simple annoyance.

Other meanings

  • despiseverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word