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道Nihongo Path
卑

卑·lowly, base

On-yomi
ヒ
Kun-yomi
いや(しい)いや(しむ)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

9 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
卑怯ひきょうcowardly, unfair
卑しいいやしいvulgar, lowly
卑屈ひくつservile, self-abasing
卑下ひげself-deprecation

Example sentences

  1. 後ろから攻撃するとは卑怯だ。

    うしろからこうげきするとはひきょうだ。

    Attacking from behind is cowardly.

  2. そんなに自分を卑下しなくてもいい。

    そんなにじぶんをひげしなくてもいい。

    You don't need to put yourself down like that.

  3. 彼は上司の前で卑屈な態度をとる。

    かれはじょうしのまえでひくつなたいどをとる。

    He behaves obsequiously in front of his boss.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 卑怯 as ひきゅう — it is ひきょう

Memory aid

Picture it

A hand gripping something held low down at the bottom of the character — kept beneath others.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 卑 mean?