卑 (bēi) - low & humble

卑Tone 1

bēi ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 十

傲不

卑 · bēi

low;

humble;

inferior;

base;

mean;

despicable

lowhumbleinferior

Usage highlights

humbleinferiority complexbase and meanlow statushumble oneselfdespicable

Synonyms

  • 低— low
  • 贱— humble, lowly
  • 微— small, insignificant

Antonyms

  • 尊— honorable, respected
  • 贵— noble, precious
  • 高— high, tall

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He spoke in a humble tone (卑下的语气).
  • She felt inferior to her colleagues (自卑感).
  • That was a despicable act (卑劣的行为).
  • He showed humble respect (卑躬屈膝).

Collocations

  • humble(卑微)
  • inferiority complex(自卑)
  • base and mean(卑鄙)
  • low status(卑贱)
  • humble oneself(自卑)
  • despicable(卑劣)

Idioms

  • Not feeling inferior despite being humble(不卑不亢)
  • To humble oneself and show respect(卑躬屈膝)
  • Base and shameless(卑鄙无耻)
  • To belittle oneself and respect others(卑己尊人)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Confucian society, '卑' represented the lower status in social hierarchy.
  • The character embodies the concept of humility, which is valued in Chinese culture, though excessive humility can be seen as weakness.
  • Historically used to describe people of lower social status or humble origins.

FAQ