贬 biǎn to devalue
to devalue; to demote
怎么记住“贬”: 贝 sea shell + 乏 poor = to devalue. The collector's rare sea shell turns out to be a cheap copy, and the poor man watches the expert decide to devalue it.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
贬 = 贝 sea shell + 乏 poor
- 贝 sea shell meaning
- 乏 poor sound
The collector's rare sea shell turns out to be a cheap copy, and the poor man watches the expert decide to devalue it.
How it came to be
The shell gives the meaning and the sign for poor gives the sound.
用法
- To devalue/demote/disparage: 贬值 (biǎnzhí) to depreciate (in value), 贬低 (biǎndī) to belittle, 贬义 (biǎnyì) a derogatory sense (贬义词 a pejorative word).
- Paired with 褒 (bāo, to praise): 褒贬 (bāobiǎn) means to appraise/pass judgment. 贬 is the negative pole: to lower or put down.