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March 24, 2026
鄙bǐ(bi3)
The character 鄙 (bǐ) conveys the idea of something being rustic, low, or base, often associated with a sense of scorn or disdain. It is commonly used in contexts where one expresses contempt for something considered inferior or vulgar, both in terms of quality and morality.
Strokes13Radical阝Frequency#33189DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 鄙 often reflects social hierarchies and the importance of maintaining one's reputation. Being labeled as 鄙 can have significant social consequences, emphasizing the value placed on refinement and propriety.
Memory Tip
Imagine a rustic village where people are scorned for their lowly lifestyle. The character 鄙 combines the '阝' radical which can represent a place (like a village) with '否' - think of it as saying 'no' to the base things in life. Visualize someone shaking their head in disgust at a rustic scene.
Meanings of 鄙
bǐ(bi3)
1rustic
2low
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 鄙 means.
About 鄙
鄙Simplified
13Strokes
阝Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#33189Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鄙
Podcast: 鄙
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AI Study Notes for 鄙
Quick Contrast
鄙 (bǐ) vs 低 (dī) — use 鄙 when expressing scorn for something considered morally or socially inferior, while 低 refers to a lower physical position or level without the connotation of disdain.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 鄙 with similar characters that convey different meanings, such as '比' (bǐ, to compare). It's more often used in a formal or literary context when discussing values or judgments. Common collocations include 鄙视 (bǐshì, to despise) and 鄙见 (bǐjiàn, base opinion).
HSK Study Tips
Although 鄙 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with words at HSK Level 4 and above that express judgment or opinion. Focus on understanding its usage in phrases and developing a nuanced understanding of when to express disdain.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 鄙 with similar-sounding words like '比' (bǐ, to compare) or '闭' (bì, to close). A common mistake is using 鄙 to mean 'compare' instead of 'despise'; remember they have very different meanings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鄙
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How Well Do You Know 鄙?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 鄙 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
鄙 = 阝 + 啚. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鄙
IDS Structure⿰啚阝
鄙Full Character
=
啚bi3
left
阝yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 鄙?
How to say rustic in Chinese
“rustic” in Chinese is鄙bǐ
The character 鄙 (bǐ) conveys the idea of something being rustic, low, or base, often associated with a sense of scorn or disdain. It is commonly used in contexts where one expresses contempt for something considered inferior or vulgar, both in terms of quality and morality.
When to use 鄙
Be careful not to confuse 鄙 with similar characters that convey different meanings, such as '比' (bǐ, to compare). It's more often used in a formal or literary context when discussing values or judgments. Common collocations include 鄙视 (bǐshì, to despise) and 鄙见 (bǐjiàn, base opinion).
鄙 or something close to it
鄙 (bǐ) vs 低 (dī) — use 鄙 when expressing scorn for something considered morally or socially inferior, while 低 refers to a lower physical position or level without the connotation of disdain.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 鄙 with similar-sounding words like '比' (bǐ, to compare) or '闭' (bì, to close). A common mistake is using 鄙 to mean 'compare' instead of 'despise'; remember they have very different meanings.
Write 鄙
鄙
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Practice writing 鄙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 鄙
鄙 carries 7 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
凯瑟琳气得快要炸了。“我觉得你真是可____！”
Catherine was ready to explode. "I think you're contemptible!"
Example Sentences for 鄙 (10)
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1
凯瑟琳气得快要炸了。“我觉得你真是可鄙！”
kǎi sè lín qì dé kuài yào zhà le。“ 。“ wǒ jué dé nǐ zhēn shì kě！”
Catherine was ready to explode. "I think you're contemptible!"
2
鄙人被一声大喊惊醒：“喂！”
bǐ rén bèi yī shēng dà hǎn jīng xǐng：“ ：“！”
Yours truly was awoken by a shout: "Ahoy there!"
3
我永远不会原谅他。我鄙视他。
wǒ yǒng yuǎn bù huì yuán liàng tā。 。 wǒ bǐ shì。
I can never, ever forgive him. I despise him.
4
“交易！”她鄙夷地说，“我厌恶一切交易。”
“ “ jiāo！” yì ！” tā bǐ yí，“ dì shuō ，“ wǒ yàn è yī。”
"A deal!" she said contemptuously, "I hate all deals."
5
袭击者还站在那里，用一种鄙夷的眼神一言不发地看着她。
xí jī zhě huán zhàn zài nà lǐ， ， yòng yī zhǒng bǐ yí de yǎn shén yī yán bù fā dì kàn zháo。
The attacker still stood there, watching her with silent contempt.
