鄙 bǐ rustic
rustic; vulgar; to despise
How to remember 鄙: 啚 border village + 阝 city = rustic. The kids from the border village arrive at their city school in muddy boots, and the others laugh at them for looking so rustic.
Component breakdown
鄙 = 啚 border village + 阝 city
- 啚 border village
- 阝 city
The kids from the border village arrive at their city school in muddy boots, and the others laugh at them for looking so rustic.
How it is used
- 'To despise / lowly, vulgar' - 鄙视 (bǐshì) to look down on, 卑鄙 (bēibǐ) despicable/base.
- Also a self-deprecating first person in old/formal speech: 鄙人 (bǐrén) 'I, your humble servant'. That polite-humble use contrasts sharply with the contemptuous 鄙视.