also: かみん
noun
the lower classes; the common people; the masses
Neutral term for the common people or lower social strata, often used in historical or sociological contexts.
当時の下民は重い税に苦しんでいた。
The common people of that time suffered under heavy taxes.
noun
underclass; riffraff
Derogatory term for the lowest social class, implying contempt or disdain.
彼は下民を見下すような態度をとった。
He adopted an attitude of looking down on the riffraff.
Compound of 下 (lower) and 民 (people). The reading げみん is the standard Sino-Japanese reading, while かみん is an alternative reading.