貶 (biǎn) - to demote & to reduce

貶Tone 3

biǎn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

貶 · biǎn

to demote;

to reduce;

to devalue;

to depreciate;

to censure;

to belittle

to demoteto reduceto devalue

Usage highlights

demote in positioncurrency devaluationbelittle othersnegative criticismdepreciatory commentdemote and dispatch

Synonyms

  • 降— to lower, reduce, demote
  • 贬低— to belittle, disparage
  • 贬斥— to denounce, censure

Antonyms

  • 褒— to praise, commend
  • 升— to promote, rise
  • 增值— to appreciate in value

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The company was demoted (贬职) for poor performance.
  • The currency was devalued (贬值) during the economic crisis.
  • He often belittles (贬低) others' achievements.
  • The critic gave a negative review (贬评) of the film.

Collocations

  • demote in position(贬职)
  • currency devaluation(贬值)
  • belittle others(贬低)
  • negative criticism(贬斥)
  • depreciatory comment(贬词)
  • demote and dispatch(贬谪)

Idioms

  • Praise some and disparage others(褒贬不一)
  • Not criticize lightly(不置褒贬)
  • Subject to both praise and blame(有褒有贬)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In imperial China, officials could be 'demoted' (贬) as punishment, often to remote regions.
  • The character reflects traditional values where maintaining face and reputation is important.
  • Used in economic contexts to describe currency devaluation in modern finance.

FAQ