蔑
ignore, despise, neglect, ridicule
Readings
On'yomi
- ベツ
Kun'yomi
- ないがしろ
- なみ.する
- くらい
- さげす.む
Meaning
蔑 centers on looking down on something or someone: treating them as worthless, ignoring them, despising them, or ridiculing them.
Most common words using 蔑
- 軽蔑けいべつN1
contempt; scorn; disdain; despising; looking down on; slighting
- 蔑むさげすむN1
to scorn; to despise; to hold in contempt; to look down on; to disdain
- 侮蔑ぶべつN1
scorn; disdain; contempt; slight
- 蔑ろないがしろ
(a) slight; disrespect; making light (of); neglect
- 蔑視べっし
contempt; derision; slight; disdain
- 蔑称べっしょう
disparaging term; derogatory term; derogatory name
- 蔑みさげすみ
contempt; disdain; scorn
- 侮蔑的ぶべつてき
insulting; derogatory
- 侮蔑語ぶべつご
pejorative term; derogatory term; disparaging term
- 女性蔑視じょせいべっし
misogyny; discrimination against women; sexism
- 蔑するなみする
to set at naught; to ignore; to disregard
- 蔑ろにするないがしろにする
to make light of; to ignore; to slight
- 軽蔑的けいべつてき
contemptuous; disdainful; scornful
- 軽蔑語けいべつご
pejorative term; derogatory word; invective
Study
Etymology
蔑 combines 艹 (grass) and 戍 (a guard or weapon), with 罒 (net) often analyzed as part of the lower structure. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the character likely expressed the idea of trampling or cutting down, which extended to contempt.
Meaning mnemonic
Picture grass (⺾) being trampled under a guard's foot (戍) while a net (罒) covers it, showing complete disregard. That's the essence of 蔑: treating something as beneath notice.
Reading mnemonic
For ベツ, imagine someone being so despised they are treated like a 'betsu' (a made-up word for a worthless thing). The sound 'betsu' echoes the dismissive attitude of 蔑.