贬 (biǎn) - to reduce & to devalue

贬Tone 3

biǎn ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 贝

傲不

贬 · biǎn

to reduce;

to devalue;

to demote;

to censure;

to depreciate

to reduceto devalueto demote

Usage highlights

devaluationdemotiondepreciationcensurebelittlenegative comment

Synonyms

  • 降— to lower, to reduce
  • 斥— to censure, to denounce
  • 抑— to suppress, to belittle

Antonyms

  • 褒— to praise, to commend
  • 升— to promote, to rise
  • 扬— to praise, to elevate

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The currency was devalued (贬值).
  • He was demoted for misconduct (贬职).
  • The critic gave a negative review (贬评).
  • The author satirizes social issues (贬斥).

Collocations

  • devaluation(贬值)
  • demotion(贬职)
  • depreciation(贬价)
  • censure(贬斥)
  • belittle(贬低)
  • negative comment(贬评)

Idioms

  • Praise and blame intermingled(褒贬不一)
  • Not to praise excessively nor to blame lightly(不褒不贬)
  • To praise some and blame others(褒善贬恶)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally related to reducing the value of currency or lowering official rank in imperial bureaucracy.
  • In literary criticism, used to express negative judgment or satire.
  • Reflects traditional Chinese values of maintaining face and avoiding public humiliation.

FAQ