Translation guide
To regard someone or something as worthless, despicable, or beneath consideration. Japanese expresses this through verbs of despising, looking down on, and treating with disdain, as well as through adjectives describing contemptible things.
Expressing strong dislike and lack of respect for a person, often due to their character or actions.
The most direct and common translation for 'hold in contempt'. It means to despise or scorn someone, implying a sense of superiority.
彼は嘘つきを軽蔑している。
He holds liars in contempt.
A stronger, more visceral term for despising, often with a nuance of looking down on someone as inferior. Slightly more literary than 軽蔑する.
彼女は不正をする人を蔑んでいる。
She holds people who cheat in contempt.
Literally 'to look down on', this verb conveys contempt through a sense of condescension. Common in everyday speech.
彼は自分より経験が浅い人を見下す。
He holds people with less experience than him in contempt.
To belittle or make light of someone, often underestimating them. Can imply contempt through disregard.
相手を侮ってはいけない。
You must not hold your opponent in contempt.
Expressing contempt for an object, idea, behavior, or quality.
Works for both people and things. Use when you want to express contempt for something like cowardice, dishonesty, etc.
彼は卑怯な行為を軽蔑している。
He holds cowardly acts in contempt.
Can also be used for things, but often carries a stronger emotional charge.
彼女は不正を蔑んでいる。
She holds injustice in contempt.
Acting in a way that shows contempt, such as ignoring, disrespecting, or treating as worthless.
Literally 'to look with eyes of contempt'. A common phrase for showing contempt through one's gaze or attitude.
彼は私を軽蔑の目で見た。
He looked at me with contempt.
To treat someone with contempt by brushing them off or snubbing them. Literally 'to treat with the nose', implying a dismissive attitude.
上司は私の提案を鼻であしらった。
My boss treated my proposal with contempt.
To make light of, to slight, to treat as unimportant. Conveys contempt through disregard.
Describing someone or something that deserves contempt.
An adjective meaning 'contemptible' or 'despicable'. Used to describe people or actions.
彼の行動は軽蔑すべきだ。
His behavior is contemptible.
Similar to 軽蔑すべき but with a stronger nuance of looking down on something as base or vile.
それは蔑むべき犯罪だ。
That is a contemptible crime.
彼は規則を軽んじている。
He holds the rules in contempt.