====== bēibǐ: 卑鄙 - Despicable, Contemptible, Vile ======
===== Quick Summary =====
  * **Keywords:** 卑鄙, beibi, despicable in Chinese, contemptible in Chinese, shameless Chinese word, vile Chinese character, what does beibi mean, how to use 卑鄙, Chinese for mean person, HSK 6 vocabulary.
  * **Summary:** Learn the meaning and usage of the powerful Chinese word **卑鄙 (bēibǐ)**, which translates to despicable, contemptible, or vile. This guide for beginners breaks down the characters 卑 and 鄙, explains the cultural context of why certain actions are considered **卑鄙**, and provides practical example sentences to help you understand how to describe someone's shameless or morally corrupt behavior in Mandarin Chinese.
===== Core Meaning =====
  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** bēibǐ
  * **Part of Speech:** Adjective
  * **HSK Level:** HSK 6
  * **Concise Definition:** Describing a person or action that is morally low, contemptible, and without integrity.
  * **In a Nutshell:** **卑鄙 (bēibǐ)** is a strong adjective used to condemn someone's actions or character. It's not just "mean" or "rude"; it implies a deliberate, morally corrupt, and often sneaky or underhanded nature. Think of someone who spreads malicious rumors, betrays a friend for personal gain, or uses blackmail. Their actions are considered **卑鄙** because they lack honor, fairness, and basic human decency.
===== Character Breakdown =====
  * **卑 (bēi):** This character's original meaning was "low" or "inferior," both in social status and in physical position. In **卑鄙**, it refers to a low moral standing.
  * **鄙 (bǐ):** This character originally meant "rustic" or "a remote town," implying something was uncultured or crude. Over time, it took on the meaning of "vulgar" or "to despise."
  * **Together,** 卑鄙 (bēibǐ) combines the idea of being **morally low (卑)** with being **crude and contemptible (鄙)**. The word paints a picture of someone whose behavior falls far beneath the standards of a decent, civilized person. It's a powerful condemnation of character and action.
===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
The weight of the word **卑鄙** is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese social ethics, particularly Confucian values. Concepts like **义 (yì - righteousness)**, **信 (xìn - integrity/trustworthiness)**, and **耻 (chǐ - shame)** are pillars of proper conduct. An action is considered **卑鄙** when it fundamentally violates these virtues.
A useful comparison is to the Western concept of a "contemptible" or "despicable" act. While the meaning is very similar, the cultural emphasis can differ. In a Western context, a despicable act might be seen primarily as a violation of an individual's rights or a universal moral law. In a Chinese context, a **卑鄙** act is often perceived as a grave violation of **relational harmony and social duty**.
For example, betraying your company for a competitor is bad everywhere. However, in China, it could be seen as an especially **卑鄙** act because it breaks the trust within a collective unit and shows a profound lack of loyalty and righteousness. It's an act that causes everyone involved to lose **[[面子]] (miànzi - face)** and disrupts the group's harmony. Therefore, **卑鄙** carries a heavy social and relational weight, not just an individual moral one.
===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
**卑鄙** is a very strong, negative term. It's used to express serious moral condemnation and is never used lightly or jokingly.
  * **In Personal Disputes:** It's frequently used to accuse someone of betrayal, spreading vicious rumors, or taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable position. You might hear it in a heated argument between former friends or partners.
  * **In Business and Politics:** The term describes corrupt officials who take bribes, or companies that use illegal or unethical tactics to crush competitors. It implies a "win at all costs" mentality that abandons all principles.
  * **On Social Media:** Netizens often use **卑鄙** to criticize public figures, celebrities, or other users for scandalous or morally bankrupt behavior. It's a common word in online call-outs and dramas.
  * **As a Noun Modifier:** It can be used to modify nouns like "person" (人), "method" (手段), or "behavior" (行为). For example, **卑鄙的人 (bēibǐ de rén)** means "a despicable person."
===== Example Sentences =====
  * **Example 1:**
    * 他为了升职而出卖朋友，真是太**卑鄙**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā wèile shēngzhí ér chūmài péngyǒu, zhēnshi tài **bēibǐ** le.
    * English: He sold out his friend just to get a promotion; that's truly despicable.
    * Analysis: This is a classic example of **卑鄙** behavior—violating the sacred trust of friendship for personal gain.
  * **Example 2:**
    * 在背后说人坏话是一种很**卑鄙**的行为。
    * Pinyin: Zài bèihòu shuō rén huàihuà shì yī zhǒng hěn **bēibǐ** de xíngwéi.
    * English: Talking badly about people behind their backs is a very contemptible behavior.
    * Analysis: This sentence highlights the cowardly and underhanded nature associated with **卑鄙**. The act is condemned because it's not done openly and honestly.
  * **Example 3:**
    * 我从没见过像你这么**卑鄙**无耻的人！
    * Pinyin: Wǒ cóngméi jiànguò xiàng nǐ zhème **bēibǐ** wúchǐ de rén!
    * English: I have never seen such a despicable and shameless person as you!
    * Analysis: **卑鄙无耻 (bēibǐ wúchǐ)** is a very common and powerful four-character phrase (chengyu) that intensifies the insult, adding "shameless" to "despicable."
  * **Example 4:**
    * 他们用**卑鄙**的手段赢得了那份合同。
    * Pinyin: Tāmen yòng **bēibǐ** de shǒuduàn yíngdéle nà fèn hétóng.
    * English: They used despicable methods to win that contract.
    * Analysis: Here, **卑鄙** modifies **手段 (shǒuduàn - methods/means)**, focusing the condemnation on the unfair or unethical process used to achieve a goal.
  * **Example 5:**
    * 欺负弱小是最**卑鄙**的事情之一。
    * Pinyin: Qīfù ruòxiǎo shì zuì **bēibǐ** de shìqíng zhīyī.
    * English: Bullying the weak and small is one of the most contemptible things.
    * Analysis: This connects **卑鄙** to the idea of a dishonorable use of power. A noble person protects the weak; a **卑鄙** person exploits them.
  * **Example 6:**
    * 他就是个为了钱什么都做得出来的**卑鄙**小人。
    * Pinyin: Tā jiùshì ge wèile qián shénme dōu zuò de chūlái de **bēibǐ** xiǎorén.
    * English: He's just a despicable villain who would do anything for money.
    * Analysis: This example links **卑鄙** with the concept of a **[[小人]] (xiǎorén)**, a petty or base person, the opposite of a **[[君子]] (jūnzǐ - gentleman)**.
  * **Example 7:**
    * 用别人的秘密来威胁他，这种手段非常**卑鄙**。
    * Pinyin: Yòng biérén de mìmì lái wēixié tā, zhè zhǒng shǒuduàn fēicháng **bēibǐ**.
    * English: Using someone else's secret to threaten them is an extremely vile tactic.
    * Analysis: Blackmail is a perfect illustration of **卑鄙** as it involves manipulation, dishonesty, and preying on vulnerability.
  * **Example 8:**
    * 他自己犯了错，却把责任推给别人，太**卑鄙**了。
    * Pinyin: Tā zìjǐ fànle cuò, què bǎ zérèn tuī gěi biérén, tài **bēibǐ** le.
    * English: He made a mistake himself but shifted the blame to someone else, that's so despicable.
    * Analysis: This highlights the lack of accountability and integrity, which is a core component of being **卑鄙**.
  * **Example 9:**
    * 考试作弊不仅是错误的，也是**卑鄙**的。
    * Pinyin: Kǎoshì zuòbì bùjǐn shì cuòwù de, yěshì **bēibǐ** de.
    * English: Cheating on an exam is not only wrong, it is also contemptible.
    * Analysis: This shows that **卑鄙** can describe acts that violate a system of fairness, not just interpersonal relationships. It implies gaining an unfair advantage through deceit.
  * **Example 10:**
    * 在网上匿名攻击别人是一种**卑鄙**的懦夫行为。
    * Pinyin: Zài wǎngshàng nìmíng gōngjí biérén shì yī zhǒng **bēibǐ** de nuòfū xíngwéi.
    * English: Anonymously attacking people online is a kind of despicable, cowardly behavior.
    * Analysis: This modern example shows how the concept is applied to online interactions. The cowardice (**懦夫 nuòfū**) of hiding behind anonymity is seen as **卑鄙**.
===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
A common pitfall for English speakers is to use **卑鄙** for situations that are merely annoying, rude, or generally "bad." It's crucial to remember that **卑鄙** is a heavy moral judgment.
  *   **卑鄙 (bēibǐ) vs. 坏 (huài) vs. 讨厌 (tǎoyàn):**
    *   **[[讨厌]] (tǎoyàn) - Annoying:** This is the weakest. A noisy child or a person who talks during a movie is **讨厌**, not **卑鄙**.
    *   **坏 (huài) - Bad:** This is a general-purpose word. A villain in a movie is a **坏人 (huàirén - bad person)**. While a **卑鄙** person is always **坏**, not every **坏** person is **卑鄙**. A bank robber is **坏**, but the one who masterminds the plan and betrays his partners to keep all the money is **卑鄙**.
    *   **卑鄙 (bēibǐ) - Despicable:** This is the strongest and most specific. It refers to the *method* and *moral character*. It's about a lack of honor, integrity, and fairness.
  *   **Incorrect Usage Example:**
    * **Incorrect:** 他开车开得很快，真**卑鄙**！(Tā kāichē kāi de hěn kuài, zhēn bēibǐ!) - "He drives so fast, so despicable!"
    * **Why it's wrong:** Driving fast is dangerous or reckless (**危险 wēixiǎn**), not morally corrupt. You might say he's a bad driver (**开得很差勁 kāi de hěn chàjìng**), but not **卑鄙**.
    * **Corrected:** 他为了超车，故意别别人的车，真**卑鄙**！(Tā wèile chāochē, gùyì bié biérén de chē, zhēn bēibǐ!) - "In order to pass, he intentionally cut off another car, so despicable!" Here, the deliberate, malicious act against another person makes the term appropriate.
===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
  * `[[无耻]] (wúchǐ)` - Shameless, brazen. Describes the lack of shame a **卑鄙** person feels. Often used together in the phrase **卑鄙无耻 (bēibǐ wúchǐ)**.
  * `[[下流]] (xiàliú)` - Lewd, obscene, dirty. While both are negative, **下流** usually refers to vulgar or sexual behavior, whereas **卑鄙** is about general moral corruption.
  * `[[小人]] (xiǎorén)` - A "small person"; a villain or someone of low character who engages in petty, selfish, or treacherous acts. A person who is **卑鄙** is a textbook **小人**.
  * `[[君子]] (jūnzǐ)` - The opposite of a **小人**. An honorable, noble person of high moral character. A **君子** would never perform a **卑鄙** act.
  * `[[阴险]] (yīnxiǎn)` - Insidious, sinister, treacherous. This adjective describes the sneaky, plotting nature often behind a **卑鄙** act.
  * `[[不择手段]] (bùzéshǒuduàn)` - An idiom meaning "to stop at nothing" or "by any means necessary." This phrase perfectly describes the philosophy of a **卑鄙** person.
  * `[[龌龊]] (wòchuò)` - Filthy, sordid (literally or figuratively). A synonym for **卑鄙** that emphasizes the "dirty" or "squalid" nature of an action.
  * `[[品德]] (pǐndé)` - Moral character. You would say a **卑鄙** person has **品德败坏 (pǐndé bàihuài)**, or "corrupt moral character."