Meanings of 卑鄙
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About 卑鄙
Podcast: 卑鄙
Podcast: 卑鄙
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AI Study Notes for 卑鄙
卑鄙 (bēibǐ) vs 卑微 (bēiwēi) — use 卑鄙 for morally contemptible actions, while 卑微 refers to a lowly or humble status without moral judgment.
Imagine a 'base' (卑) person who behaves 'meanly' (鄙) in society. The character 卑 looks like a person bowing down, which can remind you of someone who is lowly in morals. Connect the pronunciation 'bei' to 'base', and 'bi' to 'mean'.
When using 卑鄙, it is important to maintain a formal tone as it conveys strong disapproval. Common collocations include 卑鄙的行为 (despicable behavior) and 卑鄙的人 (despicable person). Be cautious with the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
As an HSK 6 word, 卑鄙 connects with other advanced vocabulary related to ethics and morality. Students should focus on using it in appropriate contexts, especially when discussing character judgments or moral dilemmas.
In Chinese culture, the concept of moral integrity is highly valued, and labeling someone as 卑鄙 carries significant weight. It reflects societal expectations for honorable behavior, especially in business and personal relationships.
Learners often confuse 卑鄙 with similar words like 恶劣 (è liè), which refers to bad quality rather than moral character. For example, saying '他的行为很恶劣' (His behavior is very 卑鄙) is incorrect; it should be '他的行为很卑鄙'.
Pronunciation of 卑鄙
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Component Characters
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Grammar Patterns of 卑鄙
卑鄙 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
这一罪行如此____无耻，大家都不想声张出去。
The crime was so base that everyone wanted to hush it up.
Example Sentences for 卑鄙 (2)
Cultural Notes for 卑鄙
In Chinese culture, the concept of moral integrity is highly valued, and labeling someone as 卑鄙 carries significant weight. It reflects societal expectations for honorable behavior, especially in business and personal relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions about 卑鄙
No, 卑鄙 is a strong term that should be used in formal situations or serious discussions about morality.