卑劣

• 読み: ひれつ
• ローマ字: hiretsu
• 漢字の分解: 卑 (hi) — base, lowly, vulgar; 劣 (retsu) — inferior, lesser
• 発音: /hi.ɾe.t͡sɯ/

意味

Mean; despicable; contemptible; cowardly; base. Morally reprehensible behaviour that lacks honour or fairness.

A na-adjective and noun expressing strong moral condemnation: 卑劣な行為 (a despicable act), 卑劣な手段 (a foul/underhanded method). Implies not just wrongdoing but a particular kind of cowardly, sneaky immorality — attacking the weak, cheating, or using underhanded tactics. Stronger than ずるい (zurui, sneaky/cunning), which can sometimes be lighthearted. 卑劣 always carries serious moral weight and is never used playfully.

例文

1. 卑劣な犯行に対して厳しい処罰が求められた。
2. そんな卑劣な手段を使うべきではない。
3. 弱い者を狙うとは卑劣極まりない。

使い方ガイド

場面: crime, ethics, criticism

トーン: condemning

起源と歴史

From Sino-Japanese: 卑 (hi, base/lowly/humble) + 劣 (retsu, inferior/substandard). Both kanji carry negative connotations of low quality and moral deficiency, combining to express the very lowest form of human behaviour — contemptible and beneath dignity.

文化的背景

時代: Pre-modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal