侮蔑|ぶべつbubetsu[0]heiban (flat)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbscorn; disdain; contempt; slight
    家いえでは赤味あかみがかった髪かみとそばかすのせいで、母ははが侮蔑ぶべつを込こめて「にんじん」と名付なづけ、皆みなにもそう呼よばせています。↗
    At home, because of his reddish hair and freckles, his mother scornfully named him "carrot" and had everybody else call him that.
Conjugation
Dictionary form侮蔑する(ぶべつする)
Polite (masu)侮蔑します(ぶべつします)
Negative (nai)侮蔑しない(ぶべつしない)
polite (masen)侮蔑しません(ぶべつしません)
classical zu / nu侮蔑せず・侮蔑せぬ(ぶべつせず・ぶべつせぬ)
Past (ta)侮蔑した(ぶべつした)
polite (mashita)侮蔑しました(ぶべつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)侮蔑しなかった(ぶべつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)侮蔑しませんでした(ぶべつしませんでした)
Te form侮蔑して(ぶべつして)
Potential侮蔑できる(ぶべつできる)
Passive侮蔑される(ぶべつされる)
Causative侮蔑させる(ぶべつさせる)
Causative passive侮蔑させられる(ぶべつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)侮蔑すれば(ぶべつすれば)
tara侮蔑したら(ぶべつしたら)
Volitional侮蔑しよう(ぶべつしよう)
polite (mashou)侮蔑しましょう(ぶべつしましょう)
Imperative侮蔑しろ(ぶべつしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym軽蔑けいべつNeutralThe everyday word for looking down on someone, as in 「軽蔑の目」. 「侮蔑」 is heavier and carries an openly insulting nuance.
  • Synonym蔑視べっしNeutralContempt or discrimination, as in 「女性蔑視」; applies to groups as well as individuals.
  • Synonym軽視けいしNeutralMaking light of something, as in 「安全を軽視」; not necessarily insulting.
  • Synonym侮るあなどるNeutralVerb for underestimating an opponent, as in 「相手を侮るな」.
  • Synonym見下すみくだすNeutralVerb for looking down on someone from above, as in 「人を見下す」.
  • Synonym蔑むさげすむNeutralNative-Japanese verb for scorning someone; more elegant or literary than 「軽蔑する」.
  • Synonym蔑みさげすみNeutralNative-Japanese noun for disdain, as in 「蔑みの目」; leans literary.
  • Synonym軽侮けいぶWrittenWritten/formal word for scornful disrespect; rare, and close in sense to 「侮蔑」.
  • Synonym侮りあなどりNeutralNoun for underestimating or slighting someone, as in 「侮りの心」; the verb 「侮る」 is more common.
  • Synonym卑しむいやしむWrittenWritten/formal verb for despising someone; carries a moral judgement.
  • Synonym卑しめるいやしめるWrittenWritten/formal verb for putting someone down; stresses lowering or demeaning the person.
  • Synonym侮慢ぶまんWrittenArchaic written word for arrogant, disrespectful behaviour; not used in daily speech; stresses an offensive attitude.
  • Synonym蔑するなみするWrittenArchaic written verb for disregarding or scorning; in everyday speech say 「ないがしろ」 instead.
  • Related侮辱ぶじょくNeutralInsulting or humiliating someone, in speech, writing or online, as in 「侮辱罪」; stresses offensive words or conduct.
  • Related見くびるみくびるNeutralVerb for underrating someone's ability, as in 「相手を見くびる」.
  • RelatedないがしろNeutralTreating someone as if they didn't matter, as in 「親をないがしろにする」; stresses neglect and slighting.
  • Related嘲弄ちょうろうWrittenWritten/formal word for mocking and toying with someone; more teasing or jeering than 「侮蔑」.
  • Antonym尊敬そんけいNeutralAntonym: respecting and esteeming someone; the opposite of the scorn of 「侮蔑」.
  • Antonym敬意けいいNeutralAntonym: respect, as in 「敬意を表する」; the opposite of the contempt and insult of 「侮蔑」.

For everyday contempt, 「軽蔑」 is the default choice. Use 「侮蔑」 when the contempt is openly insulting, as in 「侮蔑的な言葉」; 「蔑視」 for scorn or discrimination, and 「侮辱」 for outright insults. As verbs, 「侮る」 and 「見下す」 cover looking down on someone, 「見くびる」 underrating ability.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 侮あなどり蔑さげすむこと。相手あいてを自分じぶんより劣おとっているとみなすこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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