卑しい・賤しい|いやしいiyashii[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivelowborn; humble; lowly
2. i-adjectivevulgar; coarse; crude; mean; base; vile; despicable; dirty; unfair
   卑いやしいことは絶対ぜったいにしない。↗

   He is above all meanness.
3. i-adjectiveshabby; poor-looking
4. i-adjectivegreedy; gluttonous; avaricious

• Synonym卑劣ひれつNeutralWord for despicable, underhanded conduct, as in 「卑劣な手段」; it targets improper behavior, while 「卑しい」 can also mean lowborn or greedy.
• Synonym下賎げせんWrittenWritten/formal word centred on low birth or status; 「卑しい」 more readily extends to base conduct and greed for food or money.
• Synonym卑賎ひせんWrittenWritten/formal word for low status or position, also for low character that invites contempt; 「卑しい」 additionally covers base conduct and greed.
• Related下品げひんNeutralThe everyday word for vulgar, unrefined speech or behavior; 「卑しい」 is heavier and can also mean base-hearted or greedy for food.
• Related粗野そやWrittenWritten/formal word for rough, unrefined speech and manners; it says nothing about low birth or greed, which 「卑しい」 can also express.
• Related低俗ていぞくWrittenWritten/formal word for vulgar, lowbrow content, said of programs or tastes as in 「低俗な番組」; not used of a person's birth.
• Related卑陋ひろうWrittenWritten/formal word for low status or base character and conduct; rare in modern usage — everyday speech prefers 「卑しい」 or 「下劣」.
• Related陋劣ろうれつWrittenWritten/formal and heavy-toned word for a base, mean heart and character; unlike 「卑しい」, it cannot describe low birth or greed for food.
• Related下劣げれつWrittenDescribes a base, vulgar character or conduct, as in 「下劣な行為」; its condemnatory force is stronger than 「卑しい」.
• Related浅ましいあさましいNeutralAdjective for shameful, base character, and also for a pitiable, lamentable state; it carries the speaker's contempt or sighing.
• Related低劣ていれつWrittenWritten/formal word for inferior quality, ability or status, as in 「低劣な番組」; it targets poor level, not necessarily moral character.
• Related卑俗ひぞくWrittenWritten/formal word for vulgar, coarse, lowbrow style; 「卑しい」 can also refer to low status or a base heart.
• Related野卑やひWrittenWritten/formal word for coarse, vulgar speech and behavior lacking refinement; 「卑しい」 can also target one's heart or birth.
• Related下種げすCasualColloquial noun for a base, low character, mostly used as an insult; 「卑しい」 is an adjective describing people or conduct.
• Related俗悪ぞくあくWrittenWritten/formal word for vulgar, tacky and off-putting, as in 「俗悪な雑誌」; mostly used to judge publications and works.
• RelatedさもしいNeutralAdjective for selfish, money-grubbing meanness that shows in one's attitude, or a shabby, unsightly look; narrower in use than 「卑しい」.
• RelatedせこいCasualColloquial word for stinginess and petty scheming, also for poor (artistic) skill; lighter in tone than 「卑しい」.
• Related俗っぽいぞくっぽいNeutralAdjective for tacky, cheap, classless things; it targets poor taste and says nothing about moral character.
• Related低級ていきゅうNeutralWord for low grade, level or quality, as in 「低級な冗談」, also for base character; it focuses on rank or level, while 「卑しい」 can also mean lowborn or greedy.
• Related貧賎ひんせんWrittenWritten/formal word for being poor as well as lowly, as in 「貧賎の交わり」; it dwells on humble circumstances, not base character.
• Antonym尊いとうといNeutralAntonym: an adjective for noble, precious, worthy of respect; it stands opposite to 「卑しい」 in both status and character.
• Antonym高貴こうきWrittenAntonym: written/formal word for noble birth and refined character; it stands opposite to 「卑しい」 in status.

Use 「卑しい」 for low birth or status, a base heart, or greed for food and money. For dirty, underhanded means pick 「卑劣」; for vulgar speech or behavior pick 「下品」; for petty, money-grubbing meanness pick 「さもしい」; for stinginess pick 「せこい」. The antonyms are 「尊い」 and 「高貴」.

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

1. 卑劣ひれつだ。道徳的どうとくてきな問題もんだいをかかえている。
2. 品位ひんいに欠かける。洗練せんれんされていない。下品げひんだ。
3. 飲食いんしょくや金銭きんせんなどに貪欲どんよくだ。
4. 身分みぶんや地位ちいが低ひくい。下賤げせんだ。
5. 価値かちが小ちいさい。取とるに足たらない。無意義むいぎだ。
6. 貧まずしい。
7. 異性いせいに対たいする愛情あいじょうが重おもめな美少女びしょうじょの言動げんどうを揶揄やゆするネットスラング。