Definition
贱 (jiàn) has two distinct meanings: (1) 'cheap, inexpensive' — more colloquial than 便宜 (piányi) and often implies low quality or being 'cheap and nasty'; (2) 'lowly, despicable' — stronger and more insulting than 卑鄙 (bēibǐ), used for someone morally contemptible or shameless.
adjective
cheapinexpensive (of goods)lowlydespicablecontemptible (of character or status)
Easily confused
- 钱qiánlook-alikemoney
- 见jiànsound-aliketo see; to meet
- 线xiànlook-alikethread; string; wire; line
- 件jiànsound-alike(classifier) for items of clothing, objects, and matters
- 浅qiǎnlook-alikeshallow (of depth)
- 间jiānsound-alike(classifier) for rooms, offices, and other enclosed spaces
- 盏zhǎnlook-alike(classifier) for lamps, lanterns, and other light sources (also literary: small cup)
- 建jiànsound-aliketo build, to establish, to construct
- 残cánlook-aliketo damage, to injure, to destroy
- 剑jiànsound-alikedouble-edged sword
Examples
- 贱，。Zhè jiā diàn de cài yǐ jiàn jià chūshòu, dàn hěn xīnxiān.The dishes in this restaurant are sold at a cheap price, but they are very fresh.
- 贱，。Tā nà fù zuǐliǎn zhēn jiàn, shéi dōu bú yuànyì hé tā zuò péngyou.His expression was truly despicable; no one wants to be friends with him.
- 贱，。jiàn xìng Zhāng, qǐng duō guānzhào.My humble surname is Zhang, please take care of me.
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