Meanings of 贱
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About 贱
Podcast: 贱
Podcast: 贱
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AI Study Notes for 贱
贱 (cheap) vs 低 (low) — use 贱 to emphasize worthlessness or contempt, while 低 refers to a lower position or level without the same negative connotation.
Learners often confuse 贱 (jiàn) with 便宜 (piányi), which also means cheap but in a more neutral context. 贱 carries a negative connotation and should be used carefully, particularly when discussing people or their actions. It's typically informal, so avoid using it in formal writing.
While 贱 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding its meaning can help learners grasp nuances in conversation. Focus on context and emotional tone when using this word, as it can convey strong feelings about value and character.
Learners often misuse 贱 by applying it to describe inexpensive items in a neutral context. For example, saying '这个衣服很贱' (This clothing is very cheap) should be corrected to '这个衣服很便宜' (This clothing is very inexpensive) to avoid negative implications.
Pronunciation of 贱
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Etymology of 贱
Costing little 戋 money 贝; 戋 also provides the pronunciation
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 贱
- 1The giveawayCosting little 戋 money 贝; 戋 also provides the pronunciation
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 贱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 贱
Identify the Components
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How to say cheap, low, mean, worthless in Chinese
“cheap, low, mean, worthless” in Chinese is贱
The character 贱 (jiàn) conveys meanings related to being cheap, low, or worthless. It can refer to items that are inexpensive or of low value, as well as describe a person's character or actions as mean or contemptible. This word is often used in both everyday conversation and literary contexts to express disdain or a lack of worth.
When to use 贱
Learners often confuse 贱 (jiàn) with 便宜 (piányi), which also means cheap but in a more neutral context. 贱 carries a negative connotation and should be used carefully, particularly when discussing people or their actions. It's typically informal, so avoid using it in formal writing.
贱 or something close to it
贱 (cheap) vs 低 (low) — use 贱 to emphasize worthlessness or contempt, while 低 refers to a lower position or level without the same negative connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 贱 by applying it to describe inexpensive items in a neutral context. For example, saying '这个衣服很贱' (This clothing is very cheap) should be corrected to '这个衣服很便宜' (This clothing is very inexpensive) to avoid negative implications.
Write 贱
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Practice writing 贱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 贱
贱 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 3 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
不出臭汗去,心里痒痒, 你个____骨头!
If you don't sweat you feel itchy, you cheap beggar!
Example Sentences for 贱 (1)
Word Family of 贱
Compound Meaning
What does 贱 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 贱
No, 贱 has a negative connotation and is used to describe something or someone as lowly or contemptible.
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