Describes a person's social standing, occupation, or circumstances as lowly or humble. Often used in historical or literary contexts; in modern speech it can sound old-fashioned or formal.
He rose from a lowly station in life.
You must not look down on humble work.
Also means low class or humble, but 下賤 is more directly about low birth or vulgarity, while 卑賤 emphasizes lowliness of position or condition.
An i-adjective meaning lowly, mean, or greedy. 卑賤 is a more formal, literary na-adjective/noun.
Standard kanji spelling for this word.
Variant kanji form using 賎; less common than 卑賤.
Rare variant using 鄙; may carry a nuance of rustic or provincial lowliness.
Compound of 卑 (lowly, base) and 賤 (humble, lowly). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used in classical and literary Japanese to describe low social status.