賤せん民みん

せ

ん

み

ん

Meanings

lowly people; humble people; outcaste

Historical term for people of low social status, especially in the context of Japan's former caste system. Often refers to the 穢多 (eta) and 非人 (hinin) classes. In modern usage, it may appear in historical or sociological discussions.

江え戸ど時じ代だいには、賤せん民みんと呼よばれる身み分ぶんの人ひと々びとがいた。
In the Edo period, there were people of a status called 'senmin' (lowly people).
この歴れき史し書しょは賤せん民みんの生せい活かつについて詳くわしく述のべている。
This history book describes the lives of the outcastes in detail.

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Kanji

賤despise, low-life, poverty
民people, nation, subjects
賎despise, low-life, poverty

Related words

穢え多た
A specific outcaste group within the historical Japanese caste system, often considered a subset of 賤民. 賤民 is a broader term encompassing various low-status groups.
非ひ人にん
Another specific outcaste group, sometimes distinguished from 穢多. Both fall under the umbrella of 賤民.

Written forms

賤せん民みんUsage75%
Standard kanji form for the historical caste term.
賎せん民みんUsage25%
Variant kanji form; 賎 is a less common character for the same meaning.

Etymology

From Middle Chinese-derived kanji 賤 (lowly, humble) and 民 (people). The term was used historically in East Asian societies to denote low-status groups, and in Japan it became associated with the outcaste classes of the Edo period.