TongTong
Sign in

卑微 (bēi wēi) — lowly, humble (with a negative connotation of inferiority or servility)

Definition

卑微 describes a low social or personal status with a negative connotation of inferiority — not the positive humility of 谦虚 or 虚心. Closer to 低下, but 卑微 implies servility or self-abasement in tone.

adjective
lowlyhumble (with a negative connotation of inferiority or servility)

Examples

  • 卑微，。
    Tā jué de zì jǐ chū shēn bēi wēi, suǒ yǐ zǒng shì hěn zì bēi.
    He feels his background is lowly, so he's always very self-abasing.
  • 卑微，。
    Bié yòng bēi wēi de yǔ qì qiú tā, nǐ bìng bù bǐ tā chà.
    Don't beg him in a humble tone — you're no worse than him.
  • 卑微，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ dì wèi bēi wēi, méi rén tīng tā de yì jiàn.
    Her position in the company is lowly; no one listens to her opinions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

卑bēilowly
微wēismall/humble

卑 and 微 both describe lowliness or smallness, together meaning humble.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

卑 puts 甲 (fan) with 𠂇 (hand), drawing a hand holding a fan, showing a servant.

Open 卑 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The old form showed 𡵂 (a variant of 美, a person with long hair) and 攵 (a hand with a tool) splitting or combing hairs, hence minute; 微 later added 彳 to emphasize action.

Open 微 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Personality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.