下等|かとうkatou[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, no-adjectiveinferior; base; vulgar; low grade; lower class
   文学ぶんがく、音楽おんがくあるいは演劇えんげきに対たいする批評家ひひょうかの仕事しごとは、あらゆる仕事しごとのうちで最もっとも下等かとうな仕事しごとである。↗

   The trade of critic, in literature, music, and the drama, is the most degraded of all.

• Synonym粗悪そあくNeutralStresses crude workmanship and poor quality, as in 「粗悪品」; mostly said of goods and things, not of character. 「下等」 can also mean low in rank or grade.
• Synonym卑しいいやしいNeutralA native Japanese adjective for lowly birth, or for base, greedy character, as in 「卑しい根性」; it mostly passes judgment on people's character.
• Synonym悪質あくしつNeutralBad in quality or nature: it covers shoddy goods but often means malicious methods, as in 「悪質な詐欺」. 「下等」 stresses low class or grade.
• Synonym劣悪れつあくWrittenA written/formal word for dreadful quality, ability or conditions, as in 「劣悪な環境」「劣悪な品質」; not used to judge character.
• Synonym低劣ていれつWrittenA written/formal word for low ability, status or quality, as in 「低劣な番組」; it can judge people or things, and is close to 「下等」.
• Synonym陋劣ろうれつWrittenWritten/formal and little used; it stresses a base, low-minded heart and is said only of people's character. 「下等」 can also describe low grade or quality.
• Synonym低級ていきゅうNeutralLow in degree, quality or grade, as in 「低級な冗談」; used of things and tastes, and largely interchangeable with 「下等」.
• Synonym下劣げれつNeutralBase and vulgar in character, speech or tastes and content, as in 「下劣な行為」「下劣な冗談」; its pejorative force is stronger than 「下等」's.
• Synonym卑俗ひぞくWrittenA written/formal word for low, coarse tastes or speech, as in 「卑俗な趣味」; it is about taste and refinement, not about grade.
• Synonym劣等れっとうNeutralInferior to others in degree or rank, as in 「劣等感」「劣等生」; it stresses coming off worse in a comparison.
• Synonym下賎げせんWrittenA written/formal, somewhat old-fashioned word for low status or standing, centered on birth and family. 「下等」 speaks more of grade and quality.
• Synonym庸劣ようれつWrittenWritten/formal and little used; mediocre and below the common standard, with a hint of dullness. In daily speech use 「低級」 or 「凡庸」.
• Synonym拙悪せつあくWrittenWritten/formal and rare; both clumsy and crude, said mostly of workmanship or quality. In everyday use prefer 「拙劣」 or 「粗悪」.
• Synonym俗悪ぞくあくWrittenVulgar and lowbrow, as in 「俗悪な番組」; it targets low taste and style, not grade or rank.
• Synonym卑賎ひせんWrittenA written/formal, archaic word for lowly status or standing, or for low character despised by others; rarely used in daily life.
• Related拙劣せつれつWrittenA written/formal word for clumsy skill and poorly done work, as in 「拙劣な文章」; it points to poor workmanship, not to grade or character.
• Related下位かいNeutralLower in ranking or hierarchy, as in 「下位チーム」「下位の組織」, or a subordinate lower level; it carries no taint of poor quality or base character.
• Related下級かきゅうNeutralLow in grade or stage, as in 「下級生」「下級公務員」; neutral, with no pejorative shade, while 「下等」 often carries contempt.
• Related卑劣ひれつNeutralUnderhanded and dishonorable in one's methods, as in 「卑劣な手口」; it stresses improper conduct, while 「下等」 is about low class or grade.
• Related凡俗ぼんぞくWrittenWritten/formal; mediocre with nothing to recommend it, and also the common run of people. It stresses ordinariness, lacking 「下等」's sense of inferior quality.
• Antonym上等じょうとうNeutralHigh in grade and fine in quality, as in 「上等な肉」; it is the opposite of 「下等」 in both its grade and quality senses.
• Antonym高等こうとうNeutralHigh in degree or grade; 「高等動物」 is the counterpart of 「下等動物」, but 「高等教育」 pairs with 「初等」.

Use 「下等」 for low rank or grade and for poor quality, as in 「下等動物」; it can also disparage a person's character. In everyday comments on class, 「低級」 is the usual word; for shoddy quality say 「粗悪」; for a base, contemptible character use 「下劣」 or 「卑劣」. Note that 「下位」 and 「下級」 are neutral rank terms without 「下等」's contempt, 「劣悪」 and 「拙劣」 target bad conditions or clumsy skill, and 「上等」 and 「高等」 stand as its antonyms.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 等級とうきゅうが下したであること。
2. 品質ひんしつが劣おとること。