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.
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.