noun, na-adjective
low rank; humble station; obscurity
Refers to a person's low social standing, humble origins, or lack of prominence. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
彼は微賤の身から身を起こした。
He rose from humble beginnings.
微賤な家柄の出であることを気に病む必要はない。
There is no need to worry about coming from a family of low rank.
Compound of 微 (bi, 'slight, humble') and 賤 (sen, 'lowly, base'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word follows classical Chinese-influenced word formation.