Usage patterns 卑ひ 屈くつ になる to become servile / to grovel
He always becomes servile in front of his boss.
卑ひ 屈くつ な 態たい 度ど をとる to adopt a servile attitude
She always takes a servile attitude toward customers.
卑ひ 屈くつ な 笑え みを 浮う かべる to put on a servile smile
He bowed his head with a servile smile.
Related words 従順 describes obedient, docile behavior in a neutral or positive sense, while 卑屈 implies a demeaning loss of self-respect in one's submissiveness.
卑下 refers to the act of putting oneself down, often out of modesty, whereas 卑屈 describes a deeper, ingrained servile character trait.
媚びる is the verb for actively flattering or currying favor with someone, while 卑屈 is the adjective describing the servile disposition behind such behavior.
Opposites 高慢 describes an arrogant, haughty attitude, the opposite of the excessively submissive 卑屈 .
尊大 describes acting overbearing and self-important, contrasting with the self-abasing 卑屈 .
卑屈 describes a servile, self-abasing attitude, the opposite of the dignified firmness of 毅然 .
Don't confuse with 卑劣 shares the kanji 卑 but means mean or dishonorable in conduct, whereas 卑屈 specifically describes excessive, spineless submissiveness.
卑怯 also shares the kanji 卑 but means cowardly or underhanded, while 卑屈 describes servile, obsequious behavior rather than cowardice.
Written forms 卑ひ 屈くつ Usage 99%
Standard kanji spelling; the word is normally written in kanji.
ひくつ Usage 1%
Etymology Compound of 卑 (lowly, base) and 屈 (bend, yield). The combination suggests bending oneself low in a demeaning way.
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