卑劣・鄙劣|ひれつhiretsu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
卑劣卑劣 is the most common kanji-only form, expressing the sense “mean; contemptible; despicable; dirty.” It is the form learners should expect to see most often.
鄙劣鄙劣 is a rarely used kanji-only variant of 卑劣. You may encounter it occasionally, but choose 卑劣 when writing.
Definitions
- na-adjective, nounmean; contemptible; despicable; dirty; foul; cowardly; base
Conjugation
| Plain form | 卑劣（ひれつ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 卑劣です（ひれつです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 卑劣ではない（ひれつではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 卑劣ではありません（ひれつではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 卑劣だった（ひれつだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 卑劣ではなかった（ひれつではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 卑劣で（ひれつで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 卑劣に（ひれつに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 卑劣なら（ひれつなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym卑怯ひきょうNeutralCowardly, sneaky and not aboveboard, as in 「卑怯な手」; common in speech; adds the nuance of cowardice.
- Synonym下劣げれつNeutralDescribes a person of low, vulgar character, as in 「下劣な人間」; stresses coarseness and vulgarity, while 「卑劣」 stresses underhanded meanness and fits both people and deeds.
- RelatedいやらしいCasualColloquial; unpleasant, also lewd; stresses that something feels disagreeable rather than morally base.
- Related汚いきたないNeutralColloquial and very widely used; literally dirty, figuratively unclean methods as in 「汚い手口」.
- Related卑陋ひろうWrittenWritten/formal prose, rarely used; covers low social standing or a base, inferior character.
- Related下種げすCasualColloquial insult for a low, base person, as in 「下衆の勘繰り」; carries strong contempt.
- Related野卑やひWrittenWritten/formal prose; coarse, vulgar words or behavior, as in 「野卑な言葉」; stresses crudeness.
- RelatedさもしいNeutralA greedy, base mindset, as in 「さもしい根性」; stresses petty greed and self-interest.
- Related陋劣ろうれつWrittenWritten/formal prose, rarely used; describes a heart or character that is base and inferior.
- RelatedいかがわしいNeutralSuspicious or improper, as in 「いかがわしい店」; stresses shadiness and indecency.
- RelatedせこいCasualColloquial; stingy or given to petty tricks, stressing cheapness and slyness.
- RelatedえげつないCasualColloquial; originally a Kansai word, now used nationwide; describes harsh, blatant methods, stressing ruthlessness.
- Antonym高潔こうけつWrittenAntonym; written/formal prose; noble, high-minded virtue, the opposite of base 「卑劣」.
- Antonym立派りっぱNeutralAntonym; splendid and honorable, standing in contrast to 「卑劣」.
Use 「卑劣」 for despicable, underhanded conduct, as in 「卑劣な犯行」「卑劣な人間」. For cowardly meanness say 「卑怯」, for a low, vulgar character 「下劣」; in casual speech 「汚い」 and 「せこい」 are common. The antonym is 「高潔」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
