‘卑鄙’ (bēi bǐ) is an adjective meaning ‘despicable’ or ‘vile’, describing behavior or a person who acts with extreme moral corruption, deceitfulness, or contemptible selfishness. The first character 卑 (bēi) means ‘lowly’, ‘humble’, or ‘base’ — historically denoting low social status or moral standing; the second character 鄙 (bǐ) means ‘rustic’, ‘coarse’, or ‘contemptible’, often implying ignorance and lack of refinement. Together, they intensify the sense of profound moral degradation — not merely rude or unpleasant, but ethically repugnant and shamelessly underhanded.

This word carries strong negative judgment and is commonly used in formal speech, writing, and moral discourse — for example, condemning betrayal, fraud, or cruelty. It’s rarely used lightly or humorously; misusing it risks sounding overly dramatic or accusatory. While it can modify nouns (e.g., 卑鄙的行径 ‘despicable conduct’), it most frequently appears in predicative positions after 是 or as a standalone exclamation (‘你太卑鄙了！’). It reflects deep cultural emphasis on integrity, sincerity, and social trust.