贱 jiàn cheap
cheap; low; mean; worthless; lowly; despicable
How it came to be
A sea shell, once used as money, beside the tiny block, two blades cutting a thing small. Money cut into slivers: what is left is worth little, and that is the word.
How it is used
- Cheap/lowly/base - the opposite of 贵 - 贵贱 (guìjiàn) high and low (in price or status), 贫贱 (pínjiàn) poor and lowly, 低贱 (dījiàn) menial/base.
- 贱卖 (jiànmài) means to sell dirt cheap. Colloquially 贱 is a strong insult: 犯贱 (fànjiàn) to ask for trouble / be contemptible, 贱人 (jiànrén) a despicable person. Also self-deprecating 贱内 (my humble wife).